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Start Me Up with Kimberley A. Johnson

349 Episodes

53 minutes | May 30, 2023
Start Me Up: Communications Expert Paige Wolf
Paige Wolf is a communications expert dedicated to creating meaningful progressive change locally and globally. For more than 20 years, she has run Paige Wolf Media and Public Relations, offering communications services to a wide variety of clients including nonprofit organizations, political campaigns, and mission-driven businesses. She has worked on Democratic political campaigns throughout Pennsylvania but now focuses on helping candidates in her newer home in South Jersey – and anywhere else people will listen to her! Topics: How Democrats can improve their messaging; what voters can do to help Democrats win; Dems in local and state races need to step up their game; Paige shares what happened when a political tweet went viral (it was scary) and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
114 minutes | May 25, 2023
Start Me Up: Actor Craig Bierko
Craig Bierko has been acting for decades. Some of his most notable films include Cinderella Man & Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. TV: Sex and the City, Murphy Brown;  Law & Order; Mad About You. Stage: The Music Man; Guys and Dolls and Company. I had Craig back on so soon because I had more questions for him (and he makes me laugh...a lot). We talked about why he chose to become an actor, and why journalism was not for him, and he shared stories about growing up around actors. (And much more.) This fun show is exactly why I love podcasting...I got to have an entertaining conversation with a funny, kind, creative person I admire! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
59 minutes | May 23, 2023
Start Me Up: Hal Sparks
Actor/comedian/musician and political commentator Hal Sparks is back! I needed Hal's optimism today and he delivered! Topics: The debt ceiling and why Hal believes it'll all work out; why he feels the "No Labels" Independent ticket will go nowhere; Trump's legal woes are growing by the second and Hal shares what he thinks will happen re: jail time (if DJT is found guilty in the documents case). If you're feeling overwhelmed, this is the show for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
36 minutes | May 18, 2023
Start Me Up: David Corn
David Corn of Mother Jones joined me to discuss the "nothingburger" Durham Report and how the right is using it to deflect attention from the Russian attack on democracy in 2016; a new website, The Messenger, that supposedly exists to be fair and non-partisan but gave Trump the softest of softball interviews (sound familiar?); and David talked about his latest book, American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy, that chronicles the decades-long relationship with far-right extremism and the GOP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
58 minutes | May 16, 2023
Start Me Up: Writer/Director Jay Arnold
Writer/Director Jay Arnold is back! Topics: White supremacy is an urgent threat to US democracy, even Biden is talking about it and everyone should be sounding the alarm; Rudy is being sued for rape and he allegedly admitted to selling pardons for $2 million; extremism is motiving the electorate; Elon Musk has been subpoenaed by the Virgin Islands in a lawsuit against JP Morgan and the connection to Jefferey Epstein and sex trafficking. Jay also share a little bit about his latest movie project, "Shoulder Dance." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
69 minutes | May 9, 2023
Start Me Up: Travis Bone
Travis Bone, Executive Producer of the Stephanie Miller Show joined me. After we had fun chatting, the E. Jean Carroll verdict came down as we recorded, so we got to celebrate E Jean's victory together! Other topics: "polite" social etiquette should not keep us from telling the truth about our corrupt political figures(re: SCOTUS/Tea Party/MAGA, The Republicans are getting increasingly dangerous and how that will affect 2024; the messaging that motivates liberals and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
68 minutes | May 4, 2023
Start Me Up: Comedian Andy Kindler
Andy is back and as per usual, I laughed a lot! We had so much fun! The show is a mix of politics, personal stories, my not-so-great plan to get a 2nd bivalent shot (I don't qualify--Andy offers up a sensible warning against my dumbass idea), we bagged heavily on Bill Maher and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
60 minutes | May 2, 2023
Start Me Up: Writer Sarah Wood
Sarah is back! Topics: GOP voted to cut veterans' benefits; the current Republican ideology is on the same trajectory as pre-Nazi Germany; how we cope when it's all too overwhelming and Sarah shared how she shot down some MAGA dude in a bar using only facts! All that and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
47 minutes | Apr 27, 2023
Start Me Up: Adeline Koh, Ph.D.
Adeline Koh is the Founder and CEO, and she started Sabbatical Beauty while on academic sabbatical because she was frustrated with the beauty products on the market. Many generic products loudly proclaim their "active" ingredients on their packaging, but these actives only make up a tiny percentage of ingredients. Inspired by the DIY beauty scene, she decided to start making her own skincare. We talked about what inspired Adeline to create a political skincare line and how her years in academia influenced her decision to start anew. Adeline talked about how beauty is rooted in social and political inequities and why self-care is so important to have the strength to defend and fight for a thriving democracy. There is so much good stuff in this interview and keep in mind, men use skincare! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
63 minutes | Apr 25, 2023
Start Me Up: Trike Theatre Director Paul Savas
Paul Savas joined me to talk about his work at the Trike Theatre in Arkansas. We talked about how theatre training helps children develop skill sets that can benefit them no matter what they choose to do in life. We also discussed the need for inclusivity as well as the importance of the arts. I've known Paul for more than two decades. Listen in as we have fun chatting about the arts; we both lived abroad as kids and I even share the story of when I put my foot right in my mouth at dinner with Paul! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
54 minutes | Apr 20, 2023
Start Me Up: Leta McCollough Seletzky
Leta McCollough Seletzky is the author of The Kneeling Man: My Father's Life as a Black Spy Who Witnessed the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. National Endowment for the Arts 2022 Creative Writing Fellow whose work has been featured in The Atlantic; The New York Times; O, The Oprah Magazine; The Washington Post; and elsewhere. Her essay "The Man in the Picture," published in O, The Oprah Magazine, was selected as a Notable Essay in BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS 2019. Topics: Leta talked about her book and then we discussed what's happening in Tennessee; the unique "misogynoir" black women face; Leta convinced me to be okay with the Fox/Dominion settlement and Elon thinks the downfall of civilization is birth control... but hey, that isn't stopping liberals from PAYING him. (Boo). Great show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
42 minutes | Apr 18, 2023
Start Me Up: Ethan Bearman
Topics: Dominion v. Fox - Ethan explains why part of a settlement could result in Fox being forced to apologize on air, and he breaks down what it all might mean for the network in the long term; what's happening in Tennessee is a window into all of the other autocratic red states; we touch on the Trump indictment(s) and what happens if he's the 2024 GOP pick and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
57 minutes | Apr 13, 2023
Start Me Up: D. Knight
D. Knight is the host of the Pardon the Insurrection Podcast. Topics: The Tennessee Three and what may happen as a result; Fox "news" is going through some things; D weighs in on Frank Luntz's advice to Republicans who want to primary Trump (you will laugh); why we both prefer Spoutible over the current Twitter alternatives and we both had a good laugh at Matt Taibbi's expense. All that and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
51 minutes | Apr 11, 2023
Start Me Up: Veteran/Activist Skyleigh Heinen
Skyleigh is a disabled U.S. Army Veteran- Working in Activism in every corner needed, continuing the fight for democracy. Skyleigh talked about her service and then we had a good 'ol conversation about our current political landscape: why we shouldn't depend on one group of voters to "save us"--all of us need to fight for democracy; batshit GOP is digging its own grave; MAGA family members; Dem leaders are focusing more on abortion and that's s great strategy...all that and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
32 minutes | Apr 6, 2023
Start Me Up: Allison Gill
Allison Gill is the CEO of MSW Media, She's the host of Mueller, She Wrote, Jack, Clean Up on Aisle 45 and The Daily Beans podcasts. She's a veteran, Ph.D., and a former federal government executive, she’s a comedian, author, and staunch advocate for the resistance. Topics: The importance of last night's Wisconsin election; Pence won't appeal a court ruling compelling him to testify (Allison believes he *wants* to testify); why 34 felonies is not a "weak" case (but more indictments are likely pending). Allison also talks about the Mar-a-Lago/classified documents/obstruction case and what may happen if Trump is found guilty. All that and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
58 minutes | Mar 28, 2023
Start Me Up: Actor/Author Kiersten Warren
Actress and author Kiersten Warren returns! Her new book I wish I were an Ocelot: Adventures of an Essential Kitten was released last month and she joins me to talk about it! We also chatted about her acting career, Kirk's (her husband's) latest role on Star Trek: Picard, family life, and lots more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
59 minutes | Mar 23, 2023
Start Me Up: Writer Sarah Wood
The marvelous Sarah Wood is back. We talk politics first: Trump incitement watch; fascist GOP antics, what it feels like to be a liberal woman in today's America, and what the country's future holds. After we talked shop, we had some fun discussing what we do when we're not working. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
52 minutes | Mar 21, 2023
Start Me Up: Andrew Lawrence - Media Matters
Andrew Lawrence is the Deputy Director of Rapid Response at Media Matters for America. He watches Fox News so you don't have to. Topics: It's Indictment Watch week and Andrew weighed in on how he thinks it will all go down. We talked about how indictments will affect the MAGA base and leaders in the GOP. Andrew also explained how the Dominion suit against Fox is doing real damage to the brand and it's only the beginning--more suits are in the works. The GOP has no real governing agenda and their new culture war du jour is "wokeness" even though they can't define it. All that and lots more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
84 minutes | Mar 16, 2023
Start Me Up: Actor Craig Bierko
Craig Bierko has been acting for decades. Some of his most notable films include Cinderella Man & Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. TV: Sex and the City, Murphy Brown;  Law & Order; Mad About You. stage: The Music Man; Guys and Dolls and Company. Craig entertained us with stories from his fascinating career. He shared his experience of being in the stage productions of Matilda the Musical and The Music Man; he talked about his fun role as "Jazz Man" on Sex and the City; he spoke openly and from the heart about having A.D.D., his friendship with Carrie Fischer and literally so much more. Craig was a blast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
43 minutes | Mar 14, 2023
Start Me Up: Chris Hahn
Chris Hahn is a progressive pundit and the host of the Aggressive Progressive.  He also hosts a syndicated radio show and works as a  political consultant and attorney based in New York. He has made numerous national television appearances on a variety of political, pop culture and public policy topics. Topics: How the Fox defamation lawsuits will affect journalism long term; Trump indictments are imminent; Trump could be the 2024 GOP nominee and he could win but we do have a say and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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