Episode 133 :: Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers:: Stories of Learning to Be a Human Again in a Divided World with the Ladies of Pantsuit Politics
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 begans back in 2015 as a bi-paritisan conversation about politics and the nuances that could be found from 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. In 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 political conversations partciulary 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, its 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 in that journey, friend, I hope you know that you matter. And your story matters.
PS: If you are interested, the Pantsuit Politics community are currently walking through their new book with 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
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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)
*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com