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This week the Good News Gals cover the story of 6 Tongan teens who find themselves stranded on an uninhabited island 56 years ago.The result is anything but the storyline you may remember from Lord of the Flies. Join us as we follow a true survival story through the struggle but ending with joy. To learn more about these incredible humans check out some of our sources! Six Tongan Castaways in Ata Island | OLD DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL 7Tongan CultureA real life Lord of the Flies: The 50-year-old story of a group of teens stranded on an island - Correspondent Holly Williams“Rutger Bregman: the Dutch historian who rocked Davos and unearthed the real Lord of the Flies”“The 'real Lord of the Flies': a survivor's story of shipwreck and salvation” The real Lord of the Flies: what happened when six boys were shipwrecked for 15 monthsThe Tongan Castaways of Ata Island | Surviving with one of the six boysHumankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman"This is really old theory in Western culture, that our civilization is just a thin veneer, just a thin layer. And that when something bad happens—say there is a natural disaster or you shipwreck on an island and you have the freedom to establish your own society—that people reveal who they really are. You know, people deep down are just selfish."

This week Good News Gals Emily and Morgan cover Dr. Carolyn Finney.Green spaces offer benefits to our physical, mental, and social health, but they aren’t experienced or accessed equally. As a teacher, storyteller, and “accidental environmentalist,” Dr. Carolyn Finney asks us to join her in reckoning with the question of “which public” our outdoor spaces serve and how we can collectively re-create these spaces for everyone. Carolyn argues that we cannot control the skin we are born in and so whiteness is no worse than blackness or brownness BUT the way that whiteness has been weaponized and systemically given power is where it becomes problematic. To learn more:Black Faces White Spaces by Carolyn FinneyTEDx : Whose Story Counts? Melanin Base Camp Guide to Outdoor Allyship**Disclaimer** This episode was recorded a week prior and thus does not address the murder of Daunte Wright during the conversation about police traffic stops. 

“I have a Ph.D. of being poor, hungry, and determined. And I think when you’ve experienced those three things, there’s a lot of wisdom. When you’ve been poor, there’s so much innovation that comes out of that.” - Richard MontanezToday, Morgan and Emily share the life story of the brilliant and resilient mind that invented flamin' hot Cheetos! Richard Montanez did not thrive in a traditional educational setting. Instead, Richard has learned from experience and necessity. Join us to learn about the joys and struggles of someone brave, kind, and doing the work that needs to be done.

The Good News Gals discuss the necessity of high level ethical decision making. Join us to learn about Thiokol scientist Allan McDonald who worked in conjunction with the Challenger Rocket and later developed booster rockets that astronauts considered the safest part of the spacecraft. Al McDonald took a courageous stand to make certain the truth was heard regardless of personal ramifications.Stand up for what you know is right and you will stand on the side of justice. Support this Podcast!

In this bonus episode, Emily and Morgan share nuggets of Good News! To hear more of these Good News Nuggets, check out our Patreon.

Join us to hear about the triumphs of the human spirit. This week the Good News Gals close the epic saga of Harriet Tubman. Sharing the last installment of her story feels like a great way to introduce Women’s History Month! Harriet was a disabled Black woman who made such an impact on history part of her story actually made it into our history books. This episode explores her life after the Underground Railroad. These years of her life were filled with heroic leadership, cunning, deep empathy, and a persistent spirit. Harriet supported people in need. Harriet led us in battle in the civil war (the first woman to do so) and took care of the elderly when the government did not. She was active in women’s rights, speaking to empower Black women to build and share their power.Our government and our people repeatedly failed Harriet but she never gave up on herself. She persisted and she did not give in when the world was pressing upon her with a stifling weight. Morgan and Emily also discussed:Scams - Everyone has been scammed and we should make it common practice to talk about our experiences. Speaking of these experiences helps those around us and removes their connections to feelings of shame.  Stress and the impact of stress (due to our skewed socioeconomic, racist, classist system) on life expectancy. 

This week Morgan and Emily continue the Saga of Harriet Tubman. Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross) was the 5th of 9 children. She was known as Minty. Join us to learn about her life from birth to the election of Abraham Lincoln (just after her final trip on the Underground Railroad). 

Join Emily and Morgan for an immersive experience. The Gals explore the journey of the Underground Railroad lead by its most famous conductor: Harriet Tubman.

On November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges would be the only Black student to attend the William Frantz School, near her home, and the first Black child to integrate into an all-white elementary school in the South. Her early life is iconic but Ruby says she has not fulfilled her purpose yet! In 1999, Ruby formed the Ruby Bridges Foundation, which is headquartered in New Orleans. Their missions is to promote "the values of tolerance, respect, and appreciation of all differences"Describing the mission of the group, she says, "racism is a grown-up disease and we must stop using our children to spread it." And that’s what she does now, everyday! Having herself been thrust into the discourse around race and racism at such a young age, she decided she wanted to work with kids and do what she could to interrupt the spread of that grown-up disease. So she travels all across the country, speaking to kids in schools. Mentioned during the episode:Books:The Story of Ruby Bridges -Written by Dr. Robert ColesThrough My Eyes-Written By Ruby Bridges Movie: Ruby’s ShoesTed Talk

Good News Everyone! Morgan and Emily are here to share a story that reminds us to take care of one another. Shavarsh Karapetyan has lived a life so bold some might mistake him for a real-life superhero. Born and raised in Armenia, Shavarsh has more ambition than we knew could live in a single person. Taking rejection and turning it into greater opportunities, this man is the epitome of being in the right place at the right time (even when it feels like your dreams are being crushed). This finswimmer holds 11 world records and 8 Olympic medals and has saved the lives of over 80 individuals in 3 different life or death situations. 

Patsy Takemoto Mink served in the US Congress as the first woman of color elected to the US House of Representatives representing Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District. She fought relentlessly for the integrity of the democratic process, civil rights, women's rights, economic justice, civil liberties, and peace. Patsy came before the Senate for its hearing on the Supreme Court nominee George Harrold Carswell. George was a southern judge and President Richard Nixon’s second attempt to appoint a Supreme Court justice. Patsy successfully stopped the nomination. Nixon’s third nominee was midwestern Republican Harry Blackmun. Harry was confirmed and three years later went on to write the Supreme Court’s majority opinion in Roe v. Wade. “The Supreme Court is the final guardian of our human rights, We must rely totally upon its membership to sustain the basic values of our society.” - PatsyPatsy is known for her vast contributions to women's rights through Title IX. “I certainly consider Title IX one of my most significant accomplishments while I served in Congress from 1965 to 1977. The pursuit of Title IX and its enforcement has been a personal crusade for me. Equal educational opportunities for women and girls is essential for us to achieve parity in all aspects of our society.” - PatsyOn November 24, 2014, Patsy was awarded a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, and Title IX law was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act.

This week the Good News Gals explore the life and achievements of Annie Easley. Morgan and Emily also appreciate the good news of Grandparents, painting, skiing, and even traffic!Join us as we channel some Annie energy. This incredible woman moved from fighting voter suppression by serving her community as a literacy tutor during the Jim Crow poll tax and test era to rocket scientist in the dawn of the Space Age. Brilliant and dedicated, Annie does not let anyone stop her from fulfilling her potential. Annie knew she was capable of anything she was willing to work hard to achieve…and she was not afraid to put in the work. 

Join us to learn about the Barbra Streisand effect, surprise adventure cat, and some personal empowerment to start your day!In this episode, Morgan tells us about Congressman and activist John Lewis. A man with many lifetimes worth of rebellion, adventure, and work for the people.“Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe. In my life, I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love, and nonviolence is the more excellent way. Now it is your turn to let freedom ring.”John was raised in a segregated school in Alabama. He was incredibly disappointed when his school remained segregated after Brown v. Board of Education. He was a leader his entire lifetime. Pushing beyond his roots and making strides towards changes. From sit-ins to Freedom rides, Marching, to running for office, this man spent his entire work fighting to end systemic racism in our country.NY Times article under the title John Lewis: Together, You can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation.New York Times article under the name: The First time John Lewis and I Integrated the Buses.

Emily and Morgan start the new year off with a blast of good news!Assistant Coach Beck Hammond became the first woman to serve as head coach in the NBA when Spurs head coach was ejected.London Christmas Tree is a Christmas rental tree service aimed at more sustainable habits without altering Christmas traditions! Learn about the environmental impact of real trees vs. artificial trees and what other sustainable options are available!Santa’s hardworking helpers Mike and Judy Sullivan are making the most of retirement by making toys. Spending 8-10 hours in the woodshed 6-7 days a week, these two have committed to brightening the days of local children. To support their work please donate.In Excelsior MN, the restaurant The Suburban is making pregnant women rejoice! Their burger: The Labor Inducer has quite the history of helping women cross the final stretch in pregnancy and induce labor.Sesame Street has done it again! They have created six-year-old twins Noor and Aziz Yasmin. These Rohingya Muppets aim to help thousands of refugee children overcome trauma and tackle the impact of coronavirus in the world’s largest refugee settlement in Bangladesh with the power of playful learning.

This week, Emily and Morgan share the story of Gloria Steinem.“To help people change how they live, first you should know how they live” – GloriaMovie: The Glorias Directed by Julie TaymorExplore the written works of GloriaHer exposé: A Bunny’s Tale Pt. 1 & 2In the name of strong journalism, Gloria Steinem boldly exposed the exploitation and abuse of young women at the Playboy Club.In a life of many roles, Gloria found herself a caregiver, international businesswoman, journalist funded by the CIA, and even an entirely different person. Gloria took the persona (and name) Marie Catherine Oche’s to infiltrate the life of a “bunny.”True to her word, Gloria immersed herself in a culture before trying to make changes. By going undercover for Show Magazine at the New York City’s famed Playboy Club at 5 East 59th Street she was able to uncover and highlight the real issues.Although time has passed, Gloria hasn’t slowed down! Feminist, activist, and scholar are only a few of the key attributes on a long list of accomplishments that describe Gloria.We can thank Gloria for "take your daughter(s) to work day!" She was involved in the first national effort to empower young girls to learn about career opportunities!Correction:At 32:42 Morgan confused Jane Fonda with Gloria Steinem! Support this Podcast!

Today your Good News Gals are excited to share with you, the wild (but true) tale of a young soviet doctor.26-year-old Dr. Leonid Ivanovich Rogozov was chosen to be the only doctor on the 6th Soviet Antarctic Expedition. During months of darkness, completely cut off from civilization Dr. Leonid had to make a decision of life or death.Assisted by a meteorologist, a mechanic (and the station director as a backup) he had to perform surgery to remove his own appendix!Only after returning on a 36-day boat ride (yikes) did Leonid have the opportunity to defend his dissertation and formally become a surgeon.Support this Podcast!

Morgan and Emily share their joy over families coming together and sharing the mutual love of a passed family member and Hydroponic grow supply stores for green summery vibes·     If you are in the Twin Cities (MN) check out: Eco Gardens Supply Indoor Gardening and Hydroponics. This week, thanks to a happy accident, Morgan, and Emily have a theme! The nuggets are all about supporting the food and beverage industry!Nuggets:·     The Daily Grind Cafe located in downtown Stillwater, MN. Owners Tim and Megan Palm have lovingly cultivated a culture of the community over the shop’s 28-year history. Since the pandemic began, anonymous donors have given $100 to start the day in a pay-it-forward system. They are now at over 250 continuous days! This is a small gift of kindness to people when people need it most·     Chef & Host of Diners, Drive-in’s and Dives, Guy Fieri has shared his belief that restaurants are the heart and soul of their community. Knowing the struggles of the food and beverage industry during the pandemic he decided to step up! In a collaboration with corporate sponsors, they were able to raise 21.5 million between March and August to support restaurants and restaurant workers.·     A Dairy Queen in Brainerd, MN experienced a 900 car pay it forward chain! This spanned 2.5 days and $10,000 in sales. Bringing what was most needed to business and consumer alike!·     Chef David Chang won on the game show: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? His winnings went to the Southern Smoke Foundation. This organization provides relief to those in the food and beverage industry. Since the pandemic began they have distributed over 4million dollars to folks nationwide!

Today, Morgan shares the sensational story of Irena Sendler. Born into a family that valued (and practiced) taking a stand for what is right regardless of the consequences.Emily is working on re-integrating her art practice in her daily life. If you haven’t had the pleasure already, check out her gorgeous work at @xo.creations on Instagram. She posted the “old project” she had been working on for us to see!Sometimes self-care or hobbies that bring us joy can still feel like a chore. Reminding ourselves to embrace the joy and release whatever expectation we are mounting against ourselves is such a needed experience. Flex those creative muscles in your self-love center.Morgan has found joy in the art of folding! Check out a couple of her favorite folding Instagramers:@thefoldinglady@mama_mila_auCheck out the sinéad wellnessPractice Meditation & Fire Flow Yoga through this wellness practice, founded by our Friend MarthaYou can also check them out @sineadwellnessIrena SendlerIrena is quoted as saying “I was taught that if you see a person drowning you must jump into the water to save them, whether you can swim or not.”Irena rebelled against the oppression of her Jewish peers in University.The Ghetto bench system as mentioned during Irena’s time at the University of Warsaw:“The ghetto benches were an official form of discrimination against Jews in pre-war Poland. Jewish students were required to sit on designated benches in specific sections in lecture halls or to stand for some classes. In Warsaw, Christian students who wanted to show solidarity with their Jewish colleagues and sat on the same benches with them were beaten by nationalists.” -Jewish News, Time of IsrealLearn more.After the start of WWII Irena did everything within her power to save Polish Jews from the Ghetto and Nazi liquidation. Working initially on her own as a social worker (and with a fake nurse ID) then joining Zegota, the Council to Aid to Jews, led by the Polish Underground resistance movement.As she was successful in removing a child from this hellscape, she recorded their original names and stored this information in jars. These jars were buried under a friend’s apple tree to prevent the Nazi’s from locating and identifying the children (even while imprisoning and torturing Irena).In the end, Irena saved almost 3,000 Polish Jews and her legacy lives on through the saved individuals and generations to come.Several books and movies have been lovingly created to share the story of Irena's life. A great place to start is the story behind "Life in a Jar" (the young women who researched and shared the story of Irena Sendler with the world). Reference:Irenasendler.orgSnopes.comNew York Times Article: Irena Sendler, Lifeline to Young Jews, Is Dead at 98 By Dennis Hevesi https://www.polartcenter.com/articles.asp?id=197 (To learn more about Why and how Poles celebrate namedays) 

The Good News gals talk EMILY’S list while our Emily is vibin’ and learning to combat the feeling of burnout. Join us as we explore creative, joyful, and fun ways to reconnect with people in your community during this period of isolation.Morgan’s love of bok choy has rubbed off on Emily. Bok Choy recipes for the win (this one is even vegan)! Emily recommends the TV show Alien Worlds. In her words, it is “like a nature documentary for worlds that could potentially exist on other planets.” Check out the new plant video on our Patreon! It just happens to be the happiest place on the internet! Dive into the Good News Nuggets this week:On November 24th Scotland became the first country to provide free access to menstrual products. In 2018 they were the first to offer free period products in their schools, colleges, and universities. Scottish Parliament unanimously approved the Period Products Bill, and we are all about it! The 24 million pounds to cover this program is a tiny sliver in comparison to the UK military defense budget for Scotland is 1.7 billion pounds.A gay penguin couple in a Berlin zoo was given a chick of their own to hatch and raise. This story is only improved by the fact that this practice has been seen in zoos across the globe! **Fun fact: Cows form best friendships and really defined social hierarchies! #cowgangsAn app designed to allow restaurants, bakeries, hotels, and other food services to sell their leftovers for reduced prices instead of throwing the food away. The goal is to reduce food waste and fight food insecurity.United States (Boston & NYC): Food for All (find it in the Apple App Store and Google Play). Go to their website to recommend the program expand to your city! You will also find a list of BIPOC food justice leaders and restaurants to follow/support!Europe (the UK, much of Scandinavia, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, and the Iberian Peninsula): Too Good To GoCanada: Flash FoodAustralia: Y WasteSouth Africa: JustNow! 37-year-old Jahmal Cole is the CEO and founder of My Block, My Hood, My City. This Chicago based non-profit operates with the motto: Taking care of people, no matter what.  In the most segregated city in the country, Jamal works hard to create experience-based opportunities for teens to expand their view of the world beyond their neighborhood. To combat the common issue of isolation this organization places a heavy focus on exposure through shrive and education. From exposure come shifts in perspective and an influx of opportunity. Currently, the group is focused on the Be A Part of the Light initiative. Their volunteers decorate houses of neighbors because houses with beautiful lights and decorations shouldn’t be limited to suburbs and able-bodied folks.Check out Jahmal’s most recent book: What’s Something Simple I Can Do That Will Have A Positive Impact on My Block? The New Zealand police have added a hijab to their official uniform. The work for approval began in late 2018 in response to a request from police staff who had visited secondary schools. Zina Ali who requested the addition and helped with the design is the first officer to wear a hijab on duty. After the Christ Church Mosque Attacks Zina realized that more Muslim women were needed on the police force to provide support and representation. The force attempts to create an inclusive service that reflects the diversity of their country. The UK approved a uniformed hijab in 2006, Scotland in 2016, and Australia in 2004.

Today, Emily shares a story of old Hollywood, multiple marriages, and a genius inventor, Hedy Lamarr.Watch a documentary on the life of Hedy dubbed "The World’s Most Beautiful Woman."Hedy Lamarr was a clever and complex woman. Although Hedy was a brilliant inventor and incredibly shrewd, during her life she was primarily known for her successful career as a glamorous icon of old Hollywood and many marriages. Out of the spotlight (or using it to her advantage), Hedy proved herself to be a progressive thinker, working to eliminate boundaries not just for herself but all women. The innovation in Hedy was Inspired by her father. As a young child, he often spoke to her about the mechanics of machines and challenged her to think critically. During WWII, Hedy and her friend and avant-garde piano composer, George Antheil designs and shared a patent for an invention that prevented signals transmitted over radio from being intercepted by the enemy. This secret communication system was designed with the purpose of blocking Nazis from intercepting Allied transmissions. This invention was called Frequency hopping. Rather than broadcasting over a single channel, messages would jump seemingly at random across many channels. As a nod to Antheil, their invention used 88 channels like the keys on a piano. 1997 Hedy and George Antheil received the Pioneer Award from the Electronic Frontier Foundation for their contributions to the field of spread-spectrum technology. Member of the awarding committee said this about the coveted award “Ironically, this tool they developed to defend democracy half a century ago promises to extend democracy in the 21st century.”Hedy’s inventions were revolutionary and have led us to modern-day Wi-Fi. Despite being repeatedly underestimated, rejected, and patronized Hedy has shown us that you are the result of your effort, not what others are ready to accept. Books we are currently reading:• Ask for it: How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever• American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins****as a note about American Dirt, this novel is about the experiences of a Mexican woman’s flight to the United States with her son. It is written by a woman who identifies as white, Latinx.While we have enjoyed the novel and the conversations it has sparked we acknowledge the controversy of whitewashing and pandering language as well as the depth of racism within the publishing industry. We look forward to bringing you a recommendation of a novel written by a Latino author reflecting their own narrative. We hope to see Latino authors receiving the same financial support and media acclaim that has been received by American Dirt. Please send book recommendations to Goodnewsgals@gmail.com