This episode is a Special Sunstorm Live Conversation with Academy Award Winning directory Alfonso Cuaron in celebration of our friends at Participant being honored by the Museum of Modern Art in New York . Participant uses the language of cinema to inspire social change. Alfonso Cuaron is a writer, director, father, activist, and a friend of the NDWA. He is a true artist, deepening our understanding of humanity through his storytelling, reflecting a deep love for all of humanity, especially peop...
Oct 19, 2021•20 min•Season 3Ep. 10
When Heather McGhee isn’t fighting for justice, writing, teaching, and raising her son, she’s daydreaming about biscuits (butter only, please). She tells Alicia and Ai-jen how she got involved with economic policy advocacy, what she learned about the intersection of racism and inequality after the 2008 financial crisis, and how becoming a parent made her work even more urgent. Plus: What really happened after Heather’s viral TV moment with Gary in North Carolina. This is a re-release of an episo...
Aug 03, 2021•30 min•Season 3Ep. 9
From the power of moms to the importance of trusting ourselves, Ai-jen and Alicia reflect on the insights that expanded our minds—and our worlds—this season. Thanks to our brilliant guests, we’ve thought more about how engaging and fighting for our communities can be part of everyday life. We’ve gone deep on the idea that care isn’t transactional, but a radical tool for transformation. And as we move forward in this hopeful post-election, post-vax moment, we’re remembering that our job isn’t don...
Jul 06, 2021•26 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Through The Disability Visibility Project and other channels, Alice Wong’s work has challenged beliefs about what disability is—and who disabled people are. She explains the far-reaching impact of the disability rights movement, how it has sharpened other avenues of activism, and how the broader progressive movement falls short when it comes to inclusion and accessibility. She’s even got a gentle call-in for Ai-jen and Alicia: Too often, conversations about care center workers and policymakers, ...
Jun 29, 2021•30 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Between the pandemic and life, “How to Citizen” host Baratunde Thurston is tired. But he’s also optimistic and motivated about where the world can go—if we get ourselves right. He breaks down his concept of ‘citizen’ as a verb, and why he chooses to citizen by checking on his neighbors and digging into the minutiae of municipal budgets. He also shares stories about his late mom, whose life continues to reveal lessons in resilience, growth, and self-acceptance. Plus: Details about Baratunde’s upc...
Jun 22, 2021•33 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Comedian, actress, and all-around legend Margaret Cho explains why she’s focused on enlarging the story of American history by delving into anti-Asian violence in season two of her podcast, “The Margaret Cho.” She also gets real about pandemic life, the surprising upsides of virtual Pride celebrations, and how the LGBTQ+ community’s resilience during Covid echoes that of the ‘80s HIV/AIDS crisis. And we hear about her journey as an activist, including her outreach to AAPI groups—and Republicans—...
Jun 15, 2021•29 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Attorney and Giniw Collective co-founder Tara Houska is on the front lines of activism—literally. A veteran of the Standing Rock resistance, she has spent the past three years with other water protectors in a Northern Minnesota resistance camp, working to stop the massive Line 3 pipeline project. She explains why her philosophy of land defense goes beyond protecting natural resources and tribal lands: Ultimately, it’s about preserving our own humanity. Plus: Understanding different concepts of t...
Jun 08, 2021•29 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Peloton instructor Tunde Oyeneyin can motivate anyone, including the thousands of people who follow her workouts. She explains how she learned to grapple with self-doubt and listen to her inner voice in order to manifest her dreams, and why it’s so important to trust the process, wherever it may lead. As she tells it, her late mother Veronica was the one who taught her to use her voice and find her shine—lessons she put into practice by bringing the Black Lives Matter conversation into her Pelot...
Jun 01, 2021•29 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Journalist Errin Haines (The 19th*, MSNBC) has been busy covering the 2020 election, frontline workers’ stories, the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on caregivers, and police violence—it was her reporting that made Breonna Taylor’s murder national news. She explains why she’s unlearned the idea that we have to figure everything out on our own, how seeing the impact of care on the entire economy has brought stark disparities to light, and why Kamala Harris is not a unicorn. Errin also shares w...
May 25, 2021•29 min•Season 3Ep. 2
There’s some light at the end of the pandemic tunnel (go get those shots if you can, fam) and 2020 elections are done. So, what now? What have we learned, and what do we still need to figure out? Ai-jen and Alicia reflect on the way we came together when everything fell apart, and how America has finally acknowledged that caregiving is essential infrastructure. As conversations and perspectives expand, we’re getting ready to make change that goes beyond the White House and reaches deep into our ...
May 18, 2021•31 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Sunstorm is back ! We’ve been through so much in the past year—it’s time to talk about what we’ve accomplished, how we’ve survived, and how we keep learning and win the future. Get ready to get inspired with Ai-jen Poo and Alicia Garza, plus guests Alice Wong, Errin Haines, Tunde Oyeneyin, Baratunde Thurston, and more. New episodes drop starting May 18! sunstormpod.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
May 04, 2021•38 sec
Special Georgia Bonus Ep! What do outsiders get wrong about Georgia? How does the evangelical left influence the state? Where is Big Boi really from? Atlantan Nsé Ufot, who heads the New Georgia Project , is here to answer these questions and many more, as people around the country focus on the Senate runoff election. She also explains the importance of building political infrastructure that goes beyond a single election cycle, and why it’s not enough to get out the vote—equality means changing ...
Jan 05, 2021•16 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Special Georgia Bonus Ep! Just as she prepares to take the oath of office as U.S. Congresswoman for Georgia’s 5th district, Rep. Nikema Williams reflects on her journey from rural Alabama to Washington DC, and the responsibility that comes with holding the late Rep. John Lewis’s seat. As Nikema explains, it’s not just about continuing his civil rights legacy—it’s about moving forward, building on the past, and creating a more expansive vision of what’s possible. She also shares her personal stor...
Jan 03, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 9
For our season finale, Alicia and Ai-jen take stock of this moment in the eye of the storm: We’re one week from the biggest election of our lives, and there’s a lot of work left to do. Cry if you need to, but also be proud of the work you do and look around to see hope in the people around you. Alicia has a bold prediction about voter turnout, and Ai-jen explains why some voter groups get overlooked by polls and pundits. Then, the ladies get real about avoiding burnout, the importance of finding...
Oct 27, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 8
There’s so much change that needs to happen—and so little time in between all the other things we do. Our friend and activist hero Cecile Richards is here with an essential reminder: If you feel overwhelmed, “It’s not you. It’s the system.” She shares her own experiences under pressure (including being mansplained to by members of Congress) and how she faces work that seems impossible. She also gives an update on Supermajority, the women’s action group she co-founded with Alicia and Ai-jen, and ...
Oct 20, 2020•32 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Marisa Franco helps Latinx people build political power through Mijente , the national action hub she founded in 2015. Drawing on her work in many diverse communities, she’s here to demystify organizing with simple steps anyone can take. (Hint: Start by pretending you’re throwing a party.) She also explains why everyone should be concerned about tech companies’ increasingly terrifying role in public life—and why regulation is needed to hold them accountable. Plus: The latest election intel from ...
Oct 13, 2020•24 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Is justice really possible? How can we reckon with truth when people disagree about what’s true? We can’t think of a better person to answer these big questions than attorney, author, and Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson. He shares more of his background and describes how he’s reframing the fight for civil rights as an ongoing story, not a closed chapter. Part of this work is The Legacy Museum and National Memorial in Montgomery, reflecting America’s history of slavery, lynching,...
Oct 06, 2020•32 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Raquel Willis has found her lane as an advocate for Black trans people's lives. And it's not just about visibility or getting a seat at the table—it's about changing systems that do harm, regardless of who's in the White House. As Raquel explains, there's a whole menu of options beyond the electoral system, from direct action to workplace organizing, and it's time to get creative! Speaking of which, she updates us on her forthcoming book, a collection of personal essays about her experiences in ...
Sep 29, 2020•27 min•Season 2Ep. 4
As you’ve probably noticed, this is a time of overwhelming crisis. With so many urgent issues, where do we begin? How can one person hope to make an impact? Ai-jen and Alicia are here to get you started! They talk through the importance of finding your lane, discovering the activist and organizer inside all of us, and shaking up the system. Plus: what it means to plant seeds of change over decades. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com...
Sep 22, 2020•17 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Jenny Yang’s lane is making people laugh. A writer and comedian, Jenny explains why she left labor organizing to become a performer—and how she’s still doing the work by telling stories, organizing through shows, and turning despair into creativity. Ai-jen and Alicia also discuss the importance of changing narratives, from what we tell ourselves to what we tell each other. Plus: Jenny’s latest viral video, the power of Gen Z, and why it’s OK to get uncomfortable. Find Jenny Yang @jennyyangtv Tex...
Sep 15, 2020•31 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Megan Rapinoe decided to expand her lane beyond the soccer field that made her famous — and a world champion. Now, inspired by activists like Colin Kaepernick and the Ferguson protesters, she’s using her platform to champion causes like equal pay for women, racial justice, and civic engagement. Megan opens up about difficult conversations with relatives whose political beliefs discount her own humanity, and explains how anyone—yes, anyone!—can participate in activism. Plus: Why it’s so important...
Sep 08, 2020•41 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Ai-jen and Alicia are back! This season is all about finding your lane and discovering how YOU can make a difference, starting now… because we are the light in the storm. Stay tuned for wisdom, insights, real talk, and lots of belly laughs with guests like Megan Rapinoe, Jenny Yang, Raquel Willis, Bryan Stevenson and more. Launching September 8, 2020. Sunstorm is a project of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, in collaboration with Participant. Sunstorm provides a platform for a diversity o...
Sep 02, 2020•1 min
Over 100 million Americans are in a caregiving crisis, trying to juggle the emotional, financial, and logistical demands of caring for loved ones across generations. Alicia and Ai-jen know exactly what that’s like—they’ve both found themselves caring for elders who used to care for them, in a system that’s confusing and wildly expensive. Where did this crisis come from, and what’s the solution? How can we shine a light on the invisible caregiving millions of women do? And how can we build a sust...
Apr 07, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 12
For our season finale, Alicia and Ai-jen are answering your questions: How can we stay human in the midst of a global pandemic? What’s the secret to building a sustainable grassroots movement? And what should you be doing right now (from home, of course) to push for a progressive policy response to the coronavirus crisis? Plus, the ladies share their isolation faves (fancy tequila and reality TV are involved), and reflect on the most important lessons they’ve learned in their decades of activism...
Mar 31, 2020•45 min•Season 1Ep. 11
A new episode recorded on a phone call this week! Social distancing in full effect! Ai-jen, Alicia, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley connected from their homes to discuss hope in a time of crisis, movement building, mutual support, and comfort food. Rep. Pressley also explains how a casual photo op brought the Congressional Squad together, sparking friendship and a sense of progressive power that goes way beyond these four women. (She wouldn’t show us the Squad group chat, though.) Plus: The importance ...
Mar 24, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 10
The first dude of Sunstorm! Comedian, author, and United Shades of America host W. Kamau Bell explains how feeling like an outsider shaped his worldview, and gives props to his mom, who smashed barriers of all kinds while raising him alone. Plus: Why it’s OK to laugh at things you don’t agree with, learning the value of listening, and what we really mean when we say there are “two Americas.” Sunstorm is a project of the NDWA, in collaboration with Participant Media. Sunstorm is executive produce...
Mar 17, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 9
According to “Queen Sugar” star Dawn-Lyen Gardner, she’d be Alicia and Ai-jen’s baby, if Alicia and Ai-jen had a baby. Dawn explains the complexity that drew her to playing Charley West—and how the role has helped her learn about herself. The ladies also discuss what it’s like to be “100% a lot of things” as members of many different communities, and get very, very real about Hollywood’s complicated relationship with activism. Recorded live at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. Sunstorm is a proj...
Mar 10, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Winning is self care. Writer, podcast host, and all-around badass Aminatou Sow tells Alicia and Ai-jen why she believes that everything worth doing takes time—and why it’s so important to fight for ourselves and for those who come after us. The ladies also smash misconceptions about self-care (spoiler alert: it’s not just mani-pedis, it’s political) and discuss Shine Theory, a concept Aminatou developed with her BFF and “Call Your Girlfriend” co-host Ann Friedman. How are women building a new po...
Mar 03, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 7
How can we stay present, focused, and engaged in these chaotic times? One answer: show up! Alicia and Ai-jen discuss why protesting is a powerful action—and a great way to get inspired and connect with your community. The ladies reflect on their first protest experiences (and arrests!), and offer practical advice for protesting, including what to bring, what to wear, and the ideal speaker-to-song ratio. You’ll also hear voices from Jane Fonda’s Fire Drill Friday climate protests in Washington D....
Feb 25, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Twerking for the revolution! Make it clap so we can heal! In this ep, we cry laughing with Tony Award-winning writer/performer Sarah Jones as she embodies the voices of many different characters to help us all get to the root of what we're fighting for. She tells Alicia and Ai-jen how her family inspired the varied voices that brought her from downtown cafes to Broadway, and why making people laugh is such an essential part of her work. Sunstorm is a project of the NDWA, in collaboration with Pa...
Feb 18, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 5
