Carolina Snowflakes Podcast

In this week’s episode we take a look at the “Radical Left”, a moniker used by conservatives to describe anyone they disagree with. Just how accurate is the term “radical” when applied to someone like Joe Biden?  Amanda opens this episode with a fascinating timeline of how 60 years of rightwing propaganda has shaped the verbiage used by conservatives when describing their left-leaning opponents. Whether liberals are doing the devil's work or trying to bring the fall of democracy, conservatives have consistently had a slogan or slant to appeal to their base. Jason follows up with a breakdown of the global spectrum of political leanings to show where American parties fall in relation to others around the world. Are Democrats actually far left when compared to other left-leaning parties around the world? And where exactly do Republicans fall on the global scale? You might be surprised. So put on your thinkin’ cap, grab a cold drink and sit on the porch with us cause today we're lookin' left.

Work Referenced:

"How the Rightwing Convinces Itself that Liberals are Evil" - David A. Walsh, Washington Monthly. July 2018

"What Happened to America’s Political Center of Gravity?" -  Sahil Chinoy, New York Times, June 26, 2019

Amanda and Jason discuss housing inequality in America. Jason shares how the soil in the ground where we live is a better determinant of white attitudes toward race than any other measurable factor. Is it possible that a glacier moving millions of years ago still influences voter turn-out in 2020? Demographics along the "black belt" of the south say yes. Amanda discusses the socio-economic ramifications of gentrification of the Gullah people on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. How could it be that people drive up to 4 hours to get to work in a place they can't afford to live, but was once their home? Jason contends that the federal government has a constitutional obligation to remedy housing segregation in America, as a vestige of slavery. As it turns out it's only been 60 years since the supreme court even acknowledged segregation in housing was a vestige of slavery. We have a long way to go to get things fixed.

Books referenced in this episode:

"Deep Roots: How Slavery Still Shapes Southern Politics" by Avidit Achara, Matthew Blackwell, Maya Sen.

"The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America" by Richard Rothstein 

Amanda and Jason discuss some of their more memorable moments of growin' up southern. Jason describes a harrowing experience with two lawless redneck characters from a dilapidated trailer park in South Carolina. This father-son duo left an impression on teenage Jason almost as big as the father's gut. Amanda tells a story of a North Carolina woman she knew who took things into her own hands in putting an end to her temperamental husband's aggressive ways. There may or may not have been a shotgun involved (there was.) Then tales of late night trips to Wal-Mart remind the Snowflakes why ordering from Amazon isn't that bad. To wrap up this episode, the Snowflakes answer listener-submitted questions about why southerners do the weird sh*t they do. So grab an ice tea and get ta rockin' on your front porch for a good ole-fashioned hootenanny!

Wear a damn mask! Amanda and Jason tackle the pandemic in this episode. Learn about how the Covid crisis is affecting the south and much much more!

After a week where police shot another unarmed black man, while ignoring a 17 year old with an assault rifle who just shot protesters, Amanda and Jason just have to vent their snowflake rage. Lots of profanity in this one because the subject is so infuriating.

The Carolina Snowflakes present a "Southern Moment."

In part 2 of our Black Lives Matter series Amanda and Jason discuss their influences in thinking about racial equity. What does whiteness mean in America today? What are some ways to think about the difference between prejudice, discrimination, and racism?

Amanda and Jason are going on Dr. Phil. Daytime television is never safe around the Carolina Snowflakes! How much do you really know about the bald, mustachioed Texas television host?

Part 1 of the Carolina Snowflakes series on Black Lives Matter. Amanda and Jason take a more serious approach in discussing their own understandings of the movement as it relates to the Carolinas. They also tackle some common misunderstandings about racism. 

Amanda and Jason discuss some of the current conspiracy theories floating around online, but it turns out the real threat is already in our pockets! Lots of jokes in this one so grab a snack and your tin-foil hat!