Firestarters with Shannon Watts (Shannon Watts)

Look for the launch of my new Firestarters podcast in January 2024. During the course of writing my new book (out in 2025), I’ve had some incredible conversations with women who are living on fire, and I wanted to share a few of these conversations to you in January. Why? Because think we could all use some fiery women to help us ring in the New Year!

“So I am silenced. I do not own my own truth. I do not own my own reality. I've had movies and miniseries made about me. I couldn't participate. I can't even tell you if they're accurate. I may never own my own voice, but I am going to make sure that other people do.”

Gretchen Carlson is a renowned journalist, a bestselling author, and now an internationally recognized advocate for women's rights in the workplace. Gretchen's life has taken so many twists and turns from youth violinist to Miss America, to journalists, to women's empowerment advocate.

I'm really interested in learning more about how she navigated that non-linear journey. What is it inside her that has propelled her forward? Not just from accomplishment to accomplishment, but how has she kept going despite the difficulties she's endured along the way? What obstacles has she faced internally and externally, and how has she had to work to overcome them? What wisdom can she share with all of us about how to find our spark and to protect it?

What you’ll find in this conversation:

* An incident in kindergarten which was her first introduction to injustice and standing up for herself.

* How she believes her spark has been cultivated.

* Her experience with being a Miss America contestant and what threatened to put out her spark.

* The stereotypes she experienced in television after being Miss America.

* Her experiences with sexual assault.

* When she filed a complaint against Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes and the retaliation as well as support she received.

* She co-founded Lift Our Voices to fight NDA’s in workplace contracts.

* What she feels most makes her come alive now.

* Regrets that she has and what she wishes she could change.

* What she’s planning next.

For more inspiring conversations like this one, be sure you’re a subscriber to my Substack, Playing With Fire.

“One of the metaphors that I use is imagining guilt is a faulty check engine light on your car dashboard.  Your car has just been serviced, the oil is changed, everything's fine, but the stupid light just keeps going off. It doesn't actually give you any meaningful information, so you can ignore it. You can just say it's broken. Guilt is not a moral compass.”

Dr. Pooja Lakshmin is a clinical psychiatrist in Austin, Texas, specializing in women's health. She's also an assistant professor of psychiatry. During our discussion, we talked about how she differentiates between faux self-care and real self-care, including the obstacles women face internally and externally, and to overcome them. We also discuss how real self-care can help women live lives that are more authentic and more audacious. And Pooja shares her insights about how self-care can help women find their spark and protect it throughout their lives.

What you’ll find in this conversation:

* She talks about her disillusionment with the practice of psychiatry and mainstream medicine.

* Being raised in a patriarchal society.

* How she identifies her spark.

* How toxic and “faux self care” from the wellness industry actually harms us.

* The four principles of real self care.

* How guilt stops women from setting boundaries.

* How to practice real self care.

For more inspiring conversations like this one, be sure you’re a subscriber to my Substack, Playing With Fire.

“One of the things I hear from women about running for office is, ‘I don't want to be criticized.’ And I say ‘They’re going to criticize you if you do it. They're going to criticize you if you don't do it. And wouldn't it be better to be doing something and to have them talk about you? To be making change and have them talk about you? To be passing bills that are going to do good and have them talk about you?’”

A’shanti Gholar is the president of Emerge, an organization dedicated to recruiting and training Democratic women to run for office in America. For over 15 years, A’shanti has been a grassroots organizer and an activist on behalf of women and communities of color and progressive causes. She is a nationally recognized political strategist and worked as a political appointee in the Obama administration and also for the Democratic National Committee.

A’shanti is also the founder of the Brown Girls Guide to Politics, an award winning podcast that was featured as one of the top political podcasts by Time Magazine, Teen Vogue, and Vanity Fair.

What you’ll find in this conversation:

* She talks about how she was interested in politics as a little girl, and why she chose CSPAN over Sesame Street.

* The teacher she credits with encouraging her to use her voice.

* A standoff with a politician when she was a high school senior and how that turned her into to volunteer.

* The impact of not being seeing women who look like her in politics.

* What she counsels women running for office to do about criticism — internal and external.

* Her experience leading Emerge and the work that she does to put women in office.

* How she handles racism and sexism; her bizarre experience being on the hot seat on CSPAN.

* How she looks to the shine theory as a way to strengthen sisterhood.

For more inspiring conversations like this one, be sure you’re a subscriber to my Substack, Playing With Fire.

“I fell into flying as a flight attendant. And it was probably the best thing for me at that time, my love for travel, my love for other cultures, and ethnicities. And it's the best training ground for the work that I do now.”

After hearing your enthusiasm about the first three episodes of the Firestarters Podcast, I’m excited to tell you that I’ll be continuing to share one new episode of the podcast per month.

And today I’m talking with my friend Lucy McBath, a gun violence survivor, former Moms Demand Action spokeswoman, and three-term Georgia Congresswoman. Since 2019, Rep. McBath has advocated for bipartisan solutions to end gun violence, uplift small businesses, protect veterans, and lower the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs.

What you’ll find in this conversation:

* What growing up was like as the daughter of a civil right’s activist and a nurse

* How being a flight attendant prepared her for her current career

* The ways in which she’s gained confidence in herself to go after what she wants

* External obstacles she’s faced in running for office

* How her son Jordan’s murder made her completely change course to protect other families

* The women that helped push her to new heights

For more inspiring conversations like this one, be sure you’re a subscriber to my Substack, Playing With Fire.

"Take seriously the fact that there's something in the world that you need to do and then do it now. Don’t wait — we don't know how long we have."

 Rabbi Sharon Brous is the senior and founding rabbi of IKAR, a leading edge Jewish community based in Los Angeles, and the author of the national bestseller, The Amen Effect, Ancient Wisdom to Heal Our Hearts and Mend Our Broken World. She's been named to the list of the most influential rabbis in America, and was recognized by the Forward and Jerusalem Post as among the most influential Jews alive today.

Rabbi Brous’ work has been featured in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, and her 2016 TED Talk, Reclaiming Religion, has been viewed by over 1. 5 million people. Her commitment to building bridges across divides, her anecdotes about how we can all find meaning in our lives, and her belief in our common humanity are inspiring and thought provoking.

Join us for a conversation about how to join or build a community, how to stay centered in your humanity while the world’s turbulence roils around you, and why you should never delay fulfilling your desires.

In this conversation you’ll find:

* Her own spiritual journey,

* How she’s building a community of those who have been disaffected by religious institutions,

* Her take on the ways social media is keeping us apart,

* How her book landed at the perfect moment for the state of the world,

* The ways in which we’re all struggling with loneliness and isolation,

* How the loss of a friend gave her much needed clarity

* What she hopes she’ll leave as her legacy

“I tell people you don't have to say, ‘I'm just a drop in the bucket.’ Well, take care of your drop. Your drop affects so many other people and whenever you speak or are in contact with people, you're shaping and changing every day.”

Sandra is a prolific poet, author, and artist, perhaps best known for her book The House on Mango Street, originally published in 1984, which has gone on to sell over six million copies and is required reading in schools across the world. Recently, Sandra published her first book of poetry in 28 years called Woman Without Shame, a brilliant collection of songs, elegies, and declarations.

She has received a number of awards and honors including the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, two National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowships in poetry and prose. Sandra has also founded the Macondo Foundation, an association of socially engaged writers, and the Alfredo Cisneros Del Moral Foundation, a grant-giving institution that served Texas writers for fifteen years.

Join us for a conversation about the ways in which we all have a gift to give, how invested teachers can really change a life, taking darkness and transforming it into a path out, and being courageous enough to taking the next step.

In this conversation you’ll find:

* Being the only girl with six brothers

* Her struggles in school to stay engaged and reign in her imagination

* Growing up sensitive, and later realizing it was a gift

* Writing in secret out of shame

* The power dynamics and damage of an affair with a married professor

* A 20 year “overnight” journey to success

* Learning more from disasters than accolades

* Having exactly what we need to make change

* Not wasting our time in life

“The philosophical framework of Buddhism saved me. I was studying Asian philosophy and there was the Buddha saying 'you're suffering in life', and for me, that became, 'you're not so different'. You belong actually.”

Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, a world renowned teacher, and a New York Times bestselling author. Her books include Real Happiness and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. She has inspired generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon’s popular podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed six million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond.

Join us for a conversation on connecting with who we truly are, how we can live more authentic lives, and how we can find joy, even in the difficult times.

In this conversation you’ll find:

* how the experience of living with five different families changed her

* studying Buddhism and meditation in a life changing trip to India

* uncovering the fire inside to begin teaching

* the conflicting messages of happiness

* what self compassion can bring to our lives

* how to find aliveness and inner strength

“I want to see Republican women for gun reform and I want these women to start calling themselves Republicans and trying to exert more influence within their party. I want to see those Republican women step into their political power, for God's sakes, do the work. Your tears will never, ever change the current Republican Party, is really my message.”

Emily Amick is a lawyer, journalist, and political analyst who served as counsel to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. She has taken the knowledge she acquired while working in policy to help women navigate teh political process and show us all how we can take action as citizens. Her new book, Democracy in Retrograde, reframes civic engagement as a source of joy, a form of self care, and an important way to combat hopelessness and cynicism.

Join us for a conversation all about finding your inner political power, advocating for yourself, and building a community of others who are both willing to believe in you and help you. Emily believes the key to curing our loneliness epidemic is through civic engagement.

"I say all of my work comes from pain. I think it's really important to figure out the things that hurt and then work towards making it hurt less for the next person." - Gisele Fetterman

Gisele Fetterman is a Brazilian born activist, philanthropist, and non profit executive. When her husband, John Fetterman, was a mayor and then lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania, she was the first lady of Braddock and the second lady of the Commonwealth. Her husband is now a U. S. senator.

Gisele has helped found several nonprofit organizations that focus on the needs of lower income families. She's also an advocate for diversity and inclusion, pushing Congress to take a more humane and compassionate approach to immigration. Gisele is kind and courageous, she is empathetic and effective, and she is passionate and persuasive.

In this conversation we talk about Gisele’s childhood journey from Rio de Janeiro to America, what brings her joy, her experience of becoming a firefighter at age 40, and her commitment to helping others through her work.

"Sustainable change requires small, regular, concerted efforts by a lot of people doing the next right thing. All of us working together to change something has far more effect than five of us trying to do everything.”

Sharon McMahon is perhaps better known as America’s Government Teacher. Previously a government, history, and law teacher, she now shares her knowledge through Instagram, where she puts the latest headlines into context for her million-plus followers.

She’s also the host of the award-winning podcast Here’s Where it Gets Interesting, writes the newsletter The Preamble, and she’s the author of the upcoming book The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, From the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement, releasing on September 24th.

Sharon is a lifelong teacher who, rather than telling you what to think, gives you the context around an issue that helps you understand it and think more critically. She wants you to be able to make educated choices for yourself.

Your person will love you exactly as you are, the age you are, where you live, how tall you are, what you do, what you don't do. And it's true every single time. You have to be authentic. You really have to show who you are because that's the only way someone can find you.

In this episode of the Firestarters Podcast, I spoke with Amy Nobile, a dating coach who focuses on a holistic-view of human to human connection. I first interviewed Amy for a Fireside Chat q&a on dating in midlife and I knew I wanted to hear more from her.

In this conversation we delve deeper into finding love no matter your age. From clients in their 20s, to clients in their 80s, Amy believes that it’s never too late to find love - especially once you shift your energy. We also talk about the obligation of staying in a marriage, divorce, and Amy even turns the tables to ask me questions about how my childhood affected my second marriage. I know you’re going to take a lot away from this conversation.

“If we could get all these different female leaders who care about these different issues—whether it's repro rights or gun violence or care—focused on our common humanity and common lived experience as women, I feel like we could move policy forward in a way that's never been moved.”

Today on the Firestarters podcast, I’m talking with First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, an award-winning filmmaker, and an influential thought leader on gender equality, and the mother of four children with California Governor Gavin Newsom. 

In our conversation, we talk about the ways being a leader was an expectation in her family growing up, how a sisterhood of women has supported her throughout her life, and how powerful women can be when they come together for a common cause.

Thank you to everyone who joined us live yesterday for a conversation between myself and Jessica Yellin of News Not Noise. We talked about what happened in the election, the importance of women running for office, how Republicans are changing the election playbook, whether there was cheating, and how we can move forward from here. Watch the replay and be sure to download the Substack app so you don’t miss the next one!

My upcoming book, Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age, is now available for preorder! This book is my guide to figuring out what lights you up and will show you how to live on fire every day. Click here to preorder and get locked into some incredible bonuses.

"If we don't tell the truth, we're doing a disservice to everyone. Racism hurts white people. Sexism hurts men. Homophobia hurts straight people. When you dehumanize the 'other,' you're actually dehumanizing yourself."

Today on the Firestarters podcast, I’m talking with Sarah Jones, a Tony Award-winning visionary and solo performer. Sarah is an actor, comedian, writer, producer, and activist, who seeks to impact more than just the entertainment industry with her own unique experiences as a Black woman with multicultural roots.

In this conversation we talk about how her life growing up affected her future careers, how she developed her characters and what they mean to her life and her work, how she supports those who are underserved, and what she’s going to conquer next. Sarah Jones is a firestarter.

"I'm brutally shy, but I’ve never questioned my ability to work hard. So I say yes to things that were way outside my comfort zone. I can be afraid, but I do it anyway."

On my latest Firestarters podcast, I’m talking with CEO, stylist, and activist Karla Welch. Not only is Karla one of the most powerful stylists alive, but she’s also the co-founder of sustainable period underwear company Period and the non-profit, The Period Abundance Foundation, and a longtime social activist. She is a true force for good in this world and, together with her husband, has leveraged collaborations and partnerships to raise over a million dollars for organizations supporting things like gun safety, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, trans rights, birth control, climate change, racial equality, and more.

I wanted to learn more about the inspiration behind Karla’s creativity, what it’s like to be over age 50 in an image-conscious industry, and how she’s surmounted the obstacles she’s faced during her long career. Karla is dedicated to supporting marginalized communities, showcasing beauty at every age, and ensuring period products are available to everyone. In other words, Karla is a Firestarter.

To read more inspiring stories from Firestarters, be sure to preorder my book FIRED UP at firedupbook.com

My upcoming book, Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age, is now available for preorder! This book is my guide to figuring out what lights you up and will show you how to live on fire every day. Click here to preorder and get locked into some incredible bonuses.

"Imposter syndrome, this feeling that we think we're not good enough, we're not smart enough, we're not prepared enough, we're not ready enough has really held us back. And that imposter syndrome is a con. It's a lie we've been told to keep progress dismantled."

Today on the Firestarters podcast, I’m talking with Reshma Saujani, an incredible activist who has spent more than a decade fighting for women and girls’ economic empowerment, to close the gender gap in the tech sector, and advocating for structural changes moms need - like affordable child care and paid leave. Reshma was the first Indian American woman to run for Congress, is the founder of Girls Who Code, is a best-selling author, as well as a TED Talk speaker.

In this conversation, Reshma and I talk about how she got into the work of empowering girls, what it’s like to be in the tech space as a woman, why imposter syndrome is a con, and what we need to do to support women and girls in the future. Reshma Saujani, for her incredibly impactful work is, without a doubt, a firestarter.

To read more inspiring stories from Firestarters, be sure to preorder my book FIRED UP at firedupbook.com.

My upcoming book, Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age, is now available for preorder! This book is my guide to figuring out what lights you up and will show you how to live on fire every day. Click here to preorder and get locked into some incredible bonuses.

And then read our joint Substack post, The hope you deserve on Inauguration Day, and let us know in the comments what drives you, gives you purpose, and how you’re preparing for the next four years.

My upcoming book, Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age, is now available for preorder! This book is my guide to figuring out what lights you up and will show you how to live on fire every day. Click here to preorder and get locked into some incredible bonuses.

Today I spoke with Charlotte Clymer about the state of activism and politics in America, how we got here, why it can change quickly, and ways everyday citizens can force their elected leaders to fight back against fascism … NOW.

Mentioned in this conversation is my Substack piece on the ways we can put public pressure on Democrats.

And be sure you’re following Charlotte’s Substack, Charlotte’s Web Thoughts, for politics, religion, culture, and humor.

"I'm hesitant to use the word luck because women use the word luck way too much. I was ready. I was prepared. Ready when the breaks came, and persistent to get them."

Today on the Firestarters podcast, I’m talking with Poppy Harlow, an award-winning, Emmy-nominated journalist, podcast host, author, and the previous anchor of CNN Newsroom. Poppy has interviewed some of the world’s most important leaders and influencers, including Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and moderated two CNN presidential town halls.

Poppy and I discuss leaving CNN after her morning show was cancelled, navigating the “messy middle,” the importance of pursuing your desires (even when it’s inconvenient), and why age should never limit our dreams.

To read more inspiring stories from Firestarters like Poppy, be sure to preorder my book “Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age” at firedupbook.com.

My upcoming book, Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age, is now available for preorder! This book is my guide to figuring out what lights you up and will show you how to live on fire every day. Click here to preorder and get locked into some incredible bonuses.

Regardless of who you’re having sex with — yourself or someone else — research shows that women over age 50 are having the best sex of their lives. Watch my live conversation with former CNN anchor and fellow Gen Xer Brooke Baldwin, and read my piece about all of the treatments and technology available to make sex even better, from hormones to the MonaLisa Touch laser to pelvic floor trainers.

And be sure you’re following Unraveling, with Brooke Baldwin.

"For those of us not in immediate danger of losing our livelihoods, our lives, our ability to move through the world, this is the moment we need to step up. Right now, more than anything, we all have to be firestarters. Light the match."

Luvvie Ajayi Jones is an author, speaker, and mentor who tells stories that inspire and dare people to live more boldly. She started her career as a blogger and in 2016, published her first book, I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual, which debuted on the New York Times best-seller list. Her subsequent TED talk, “Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable” has been translated into 23 languages and is in the top 1 percent of TED Talks of all time.

Luvvie and I discuss what her Nigerian family taught her about community, how blogging turned into a dream career, and why she wrote her new book, Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name, which comes out this spring.

Luvvie is a force of nature who wants all of us to become “professional troublemakers”—people who use their voices to make every room they enter just a little better. She exemplifies courage, summons others’ audacity, and teaches us how to create community. Luvvie is a firestarter.

Preorder Luvvie’s upcoming book: Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name.