GRITS

Aftyn and Anna are joined by April Jarocki, the coordinator with the Southern Connected Communities Project, who along with members of the Clearfork Valley, built their own internet by establishing a wireless internet system at the Highlander Research and Education Center in Jefferson County, Tennessee. April highlights the role of the pandemic in exacerbating the digital divide and discusses what broadband justice looks like to her community.  Donate to SCCP by clicking here! #BroadbandGritty

Tressie McMillan Cottom in her piece examines the evolving Southern identity in the context of popular culture, the ebb and flow of "disdain and attraction" to the region. Aftyn and Anna address their own prodigal returns to the South post-college, and how they've navigated public opinion of the South in their professional capacities.  🍍BONUS 🍍Aftyn gives a dramatic reading of an interaction between Toby Keith and Kris Kristofferson. #NewSouthGritty Nanny MeMaw, Arkansas viral TikTok star Rolling Stone excerpt about Willie's 70th birthday party Willie Jones, Louisiana country music star GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Some of you have been asking where is the infamous GRITS' travel correspondent, Mama B... well, she has launched her own podcast called "Red State, Blue Mom"! For this week's episode, we invite you to listen to the 2021 inaugural episode and subscribe!  Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

With US student debt reaching $1.7 TRILLION, the girls deliver the state of play on student loans: what amount of relief Biden is considering; racial disparities in borrowing; and how privilege takes center stage in the debate whether to cancel it all. #StudentDebtGritty 🍍LINKS 🍍 Run down of the imminent congressional showdown Biden signals new era with Secretary of Education pick COVID relief and student debt Why Biden should forgive student loans

New year, new… WTF. Aftyn and Anna are back for season 4 in the wake of the pro-Trump QAnon furry hat wearing insurrection identifying the Tennessee culprits and grappling with how to humanize those involved. BONUS: tips on how to talk to your people who believe in conspiracy theories LINKS Sign this petition to take down Steve Berger, Gov. Lee’s extremist pastor at Grace Chapel How to speak to people who believe in conspiracy theories Republican Attorney Generals launch robocalls Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver’s Tennessean patriot profile

For the final episode of the year, Anna and Aftyn dig into how the Democratic party should utilize three winning progressive policies to bring new folks in. Embrace an economic populist message and distribute LEGALIZE IT bumper stickers across the country: is it that simple? Happy holidays and the girls will see y'all in 2021! #KeepItGritty NYMag, Democrats Have a Problem. ‘Workers, Wages, Weed’ May Be the Answer Mother Jones, The $15 Minimum Wage Wasn’t the Only Progressive Ballot Measure That Passed in Conservative States Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

#1 Grittle Rep. Gloria Johnson joins Aftyn and Anna to discuss the state of COVID19 in Tennessee, while the Tennessee Republican leadership points fingers at Venezuela for Trump’s loss. The girls apologize for the audio as they were not in Anna’s closet for this episode. 😁 CNBC article featuring Rep. Gloria Johnson Rep. Johnson co-signed a letter about TN  student evaluations about a month ago Martine Hope, Mountain City educator from Johnson City that passed away Susan Keener, Murfreesboro special needs teacher that passed away in October Daily Yonder, Nine out of 10 Rural Counties Are in the Covid-19 Red Zone Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Yes, President Trump is finally out of office, but with 72 million Americans showing up to vote for him after four years, who is really the winner of the 2020 election? Anna and Aftyn look past the presidential victory, highlighting the role of white women in maintaining white supremacy at the ballot box this cycle.  “White Women’s Support for Trump Remains High in 2020 Election” The 53 percent issue AOC Interview in NY Times Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Four days before the election, Anna and Aftyn provide the state of play for those wondering, "Does my vote even matter?" And if you live in a key battleground state like Texas, the answer is an absolute and resounding yes. Even if all of Aftyn's exes live in Texas, the girls uplift the work of southern states in the most important election of their lifetimes. Let's get #ElectionGritty. 🍍 GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

We’re less than 20 days out in the election and it seems East Nashville, more than usual, is filled with Black Lives Matter yard signs. Anna and Aftyn unpack performative allyship and virtue signaling in this episode and ask their listeners to think about why they’re posting black squares on Instagram, and how they can truly be allies. Send an email to Lamar GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

With RBG’s death and the fate of the Supreme Court in question, Anna and Aftyn outline how we got here, what’s to come, and what you can do about it. TLDR: Aftyn’s arch-nemesis Mitch McConnell doesn’t play by the rules, and don’t let Tennessee’s Senator Alexander retire to Canada in peace. Send an email to Lamar GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Pratik Dash from Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition joins the girls this week to discuss his experience as a “brown kid” living in Tennessee following the September 11th attacks. #NeverForget the post 9/11 racism and Islamophobia and our country’s intervention in the Middle East which led to the region’s destabilization. GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Anna and Aftyn take a break from politics this week to reckon with coming of age and finding one’s purpose within the redefinition of Southern institutions. WARNING: lots of tears! GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Does your aunt Karen believe Tom Hanks is running a child sex ring in his basement, and that Trump will save the children? Join QAnon expert Chris Coleman for this deep dive into the “deep state”. #WWG1WGA GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Aftyn and Anna interview Claire and Safara, organizers with the Be Better Belmont campaign, which is pushing Belmont’s college administration to divest from the private prison system. #CancelCoreCivic. Links: Be Better Belmont Linktree Tennessean article about the campaign History of Belmont’s legacy with slavery and incarceration GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Aftyn and Anna are joined by Aftyn’s middle and high school classmate Tre Waters as he shares his experiences as a mixed-race kid at the private, predominantly white, prep school Webb School of Knoxville located in East Tennessee. This episode is dedicated to all the people of color that attended Webb School in Knoxville. If you would like to sign the petition “Webb Alumni Call for Commitment to Anti-Racism Action,” please click this link. Follow Tre on Instagram Listen to Tre on his podcast Segway to Logic Check out Famed Check out Beat the Odds Clothing Company GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

With their TN Holler launch, Aftyn and Anna release their conversation following the national uprising in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and our responsibility as white Southern women to engage in anti-racism work. #BlackLivesMatter GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Come along for a political pilgrimage to Arizona to visit the legacy of Barry Goldwater... Saguaro stealing, a (now) politically correct sun devil, and an Arizona pilgrimage to Barry Goldwater's home state... Our GRITS travel correspondent Mama Behn is BACK! Find out why no one ever talks about his photo collection...

Only you can combat neighborhood stigma! Now that they're neighbors, Aftyn and Anna discuss their roles in Nashville's gentrification and why diverse neighborhoods are the FRUIT OF LIFE.  Oh, and Aftyn talks about her coffin ⚰️while Anna selects her 8, yes, that's right, 8 bridesmaids...👰🏼 🗣Support these organizations and politicians! Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition Rep. Gloria Johnson (Knoxville) Councilman Sean Parker (District 5, Nashville) 📣Visit these East Nash POC owned businesses! El Metate Shugga Hi Bakery 👉🏻What we mentioned in this episode... WPLN's The Promise Podcast How You can Fight Gentrification Health Disparities in Nashville Neighborhoods Briefing on Neighborhood Stigma Nashville Scene, "Taking the Dick out of Dickerson" Deep Values Based Canvassing

Anna and Aftyn return to discuss Tennessee's plan to extend paid family leave to 12 weeks and how the US falls short in terms of progressive pro-family policies. #letsgetprolifegritty 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Anna and Aftyn return to discuss Tennessee's plan to extend paid family leave to 12 weeks and how the US falls short in terms of progressive pro-family policies. #letsgetprolifegritty Get Involved 📣Check out A Better Balance, the organization pushing for better family policies! Sign up for their e-mail list here!  Links Gov. Lee and Tennessee's 12 weeks paid family leave US vs. the World (paid family leave) Birth Strike, by Jenny Brown 2020 Presidential candidates and pro-family policies Gov. Lee denies adoption to same sex couples