Misfit Stars

On this week’s episode: surprising data on how marital status correlates with the amount of sleep that moms get; an amazing breakthrough happening with one profound psychiatric condition; the grueling and fun process of making our latest "80s kids" recording; and the story of how 15-year-old Jamie got kissed and heard a song that changed his life — on the same day! And that’s a wrap on Season 5 of The Misfit Stars Podcast! We’re going on summer break. Keep in touch! Don’t ever change! Other perfunctory end-of-school yearbook sentiments! We’ll see you again on the other side of summer! Have a good one! LINKS: Listen to "Take On Me" here! Psychology Today article on single moms and leisure time. Seattle Times article about that catatonic woman who awakened after twenty years.

On this week’s episode: all the awesome things that progressives can do when we give them power (way to go, Minnesota!); how orcas might be auditioning to carry on the John Wick vengeance franchise; all you never knew you needed to know about knowingness; and details about the best public toilet Shannon’s ever encountered.

On this week’s episode: we celebrate the first instance of actual legal accountability for the disgraced former president; what it means and doesn’t mean that the WHO ended the Covid-19 emergency declaration; how the name David illustrates the absurd level of gender inequality in business; white supremacists' shocking (how are we still shocked?) and gruesome love affair with a murderous dictator; and how kindness cuts through all the bullshit. Here's that DNI annual threat assessment: https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/ATA-2023-Unclassified-Report.pdf

On this week’s episode: good news on gun legislation in our home state; a bonkers study about in-group dynamics and the implications it has for the fate of humanity; a recap of our very fun Good to Me theater debut; and the infallibility of actions that are centered in joy.

On this week’s episode: conflicting court opinions regarding medication abortion, and the continuing assault on bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom in the US; holy corrupt courts, Batman!; baby surrender boxes (what the hell?); water, water … nowhere?; and a double dose of inspiration station (‘cause we really need it, y’all). It’s our last episode for a few weeks since we’ll be traveling for our big show debut! See ya on the other side.

On this week’s episode: yes, we’re talking about that infamous guy who was arraigned on a few dozen felony crimes this week, and since we’re not legal experts, we’re talking about the thoughts and feelings we have about it from the perspective of regular people who believe that no one is above the law; the truth about inflation; the liberating gift that trans and nonbinary people give to all of us; and a reflection on belonging and purpose. LINKS: Katie Brotten's very moving piece of writing about purpose and belonging, as considered through the lens of her relationship with her recently-deceased dog companion Vinnie: https://www.facebook.com/katiebrotten/posts/10228693302050003 🚨 Buy tickets for our Sacramento theater show April 22: https://bstreettheatre.org/music/shannon-curtis/ Listen to our new song "Drive"! https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/drive

On this week’s episode: the vulnerable feelings that are inherent in creative work / being human; the unsolved mystery of decreasing life expectancy in the United States; a helpful perspective on the origins of America’s unique-in-the-world gun culture; a fiery conversation about what can be done about all the damn gun deaths; and a published poem by one of our very own Misfit Stars supporting members. Here's where to subscribe to James Turner's (wonderful) newsletter: https://turnercreative.ck.page/one-creative-moment-signup Here are ideas for what you can do right now to help combat our gun death epidemic: https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/firearms-what-you-can-do-right-now Here's Misfit Star Jennifer Henry's wonderful new poem: https://www.consilience-journal.com/issue-12-excavate 🚨 Buy tickets for our Sacramento theater show April 22: https://bstreettheatre.org/music/shannon-curtis/ Listen to "Wouldn't It Be Good": https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/wouldnt-it-be-good Listen to "Good to Me": https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/good-to-me

On this week’s episode: the fact that Fox News lies is (finally!) getting through to some of its viewers; how we’ve gotten the historical meaning of being a Luddite all wrong; how some revolutionary South Korean women aren’t smashing the patriarchy, but rather opting out of it; a helpful metaphor of entrepreneurship as a rigged carnival game; and how when things feel like they’re spinning out of control, they might actually be falling into place. 🚨 Buy tickets for our Sacramento theater show April 22: https://bstreettheatre.org/music/shannon-curtis/ Here's that Cory Doctorow piece, which is well worth reading: https://doctorow.medium.com/gig-work-is-the-opposite-of-steampunk-463e2730ef0d And here's that piece in The Cut about South Korean women opting out: https://www.thecut.com/2023/03/4b-movement-feminism-south-korea.html Listen to "Wouldn't It Be Good": https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/wouldnt-it-be-good Listen to "Good to Me": https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/good-to-me

On this week’s episode: taking a win for human rights in Michigan; why the head of the Federal Trade Commission deserves a superhero cape; how the social construct of tipping sucks and everyone would be better off if we did away with it; the latest in how the worst people in America are trying to grab power by destroying people’s faith in our election system; and how sitting with the idea of death can be life-giving. 🚨 HEADS UP: the date for our Sacramento theater show has changed! It's been moved one day back, to Saturday, April 22. Get your tickets here: https://bstreettheatre.org/music/shannon-curtis/ Listen to "Wouldn't It Be Good": https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/wouldnt-it-be-good Listen to "Good to Me": https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/good-to-me

“Get out of the whirlpool of doom.” On this week’s episode: practical, call-to-action advice from a trans activist about how to stop being an unwitting spreader of fascist propaganda and actually make a difference; the ten stages of genocide — guess where we are in that progression here in the U.S.?; and how reclaiming our personal power invites peace in our spirits. LINKS:Listen to Wouldn't It Be Good!Find Emily Gorcenski here.Donate to the Transgender Law Center here.🚨 Buy tickets for our Sacramento theater show April 21: https://bstreettheatre.org/music/shannon-curtis/ Listen to "Good to Me": https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/good-to-me

On this week’s episode: how skepticism is abused by fascists to protect power structures that uphold their fragile wittle egos (poor babies); the four-day workweek revolution; how buses and trains and roads are all public transportation, and should all be free to use; and Jimmy Carter … what an absolute legend. LINKS: That fantastic Scott Adams-inspired essay: https://armoxon.substack.com/p/the-case-for-shunning 🚨 Buy tickets for our Sacramento theater show April 21: https://bstreettheatre.org/music/shannon-curtis/ Order our "Good to Me" book on Amazon (we get a small commission if you use this link to buy the book!): https://amzn.to/3WearA1 Listen to "Good to Me": https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/good-to-me

On this week’s episode: the healing magic of observing our feelings; how science busts the myth of a gender binary; the person we have to thank for ice cream; the two realities lived by immunocompromised and non-immunocompromised people; and the growth that can come with a narrowed focus. Buy tickets to our Sacramento theater show April 21: https://bstreettheatre.org/music/shannon-curtis/ Link to order our "Good to Me" book on Amazon (we get a small commission if you use this link to buy the book!): https://amzn.to/3WearA1 Listen to "Good to Me": https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/good-to-me

On this week’s episode: a fun fact about letters; the scientific discovery of a protein that might become a covid-killer; the benefits of free lunch; why and how we must all get invested in the human rights of transgender people; and transcendental inspiration from a total brainiac. LINKS: Buy tickets to our Sacramento theater show here! WA State transgender protection bills: click to add your voice in support if you are a WA resident! Here's that excellent Jamelle Bouie op-ed on trans dignity. Here's where you can order our "Good to Me" book on Amazon (we get a small commission if you use this link to buy the book!). Listen to "Good to Me" here. /////

On this week’s episode: a win for racial justice in future presidential nominations; bad habits we need our journalists to break for the sake of democracy; free bus rides to the future; allyship as a near enemy; and the gifts of mistakes and closed doors.

On this week’s episode: some good, updated advice on how to use covid rapid tests; the shocking disparity in training hours required for various non-potentially-lethal professions as compared to those required for the police; in the wake of the murder of Tyre Nichols, a challenge for each of us to begin imagining how we build a safe, healthy society without police; and — oh yeah, one more item related to the police — how a pivotal study shows that power doesn’t corrupt, it attracts. Tyre Nichols's photography: thiscaliforniakid2.wixsite.com/tnicholsphotography Listen to our new album: songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/good-to-me Link to order our "Good to Me" book on Amazon (we get a small commission if you use this link to buy the book!): amzn.to/3WearA1 And here's that covid rapid test article: www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/do-rapid-tests-still-work/

On this week’s episode: the encouraging news about covid trends as we approach the pandemic’s third anniversary; a perspective-enhancing view on the population of planet Earth; why it matters for all of us that a small-minded, insecure, control freak, power-lusting, opportunistic governor is taking his state full authoritarian (did we overstate how reprehensible this person is? 😂); and a thought exercise to bring us a little closer to our understanding of ego. Link to order our "Good to Me" book on Amazon (we get a small commission if you use this link to buy the book!): https://amzn.to/3WearA1 Listen to "Good to Me": https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/good-to-me

On this week’s episode: how it’s always been hard times, and how acceptance has always been the key to thriving and progress; why facts don’t stand a chance against a person’s dearly-held mental shortcuts, and how we can use that knowledge to have more productive debates with each other; the un-whitewashing of MLK Jr; and how the smallest moments of gratitude can have the biggest impact on our spirits.---Listen to our new album:songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/good-to-me Brian Klaas article on schemas:https://brianklaas.substack.com/p/schemas-and-the-political-brain Link to order our "Good to Me" book on Amazon (we get a small commission if you use this link to buy the book!):https://amzn.to/3WearA1---

On this week’s episode: we’re talking about saving the bees; how the story of a sketchy 18th-century doctor relates to our present-day epidemic of science denialism; how Shannon is attempting to rewire her brain away from scarcity-based thinking and toward thoughts centered in possibility; the inspiration we got from a tv series about a visualization technique for self-knowledge and -love; and the very big difference between 99 and 100 percent when it comes to commitment.

On this week’s episode: we’re talking about the welcoming power of inclusive language; the 10-year anniversary of Sandy Hook, and some breathtaking statistics regarding guns and gun policy in the US; the astonishing upward transfer of wealth that’s happened in the last 50 years, and how we could all be doing so much better in myriad practical ways if that hadn’t happened (or if we changed those bad policies!); the personally transformative opportunity we create when we make new friends; and how some teens are inspiring Jamie to maybe resurrect his flip phone. We’re on break until the new year! See you in 2023. Listen to our new album: songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/good-to-meFree Covid tests: special.usps.com/testkitsLinks:washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/12/19/happy-holidays-christmas-inclusion-exclusion/theintercept.com/2022/12/12/inflation-covid-war-joseph-stiglitz-ira-regmi/nytimes.com/2022/12/15/style/teens-social-media.html

On this week’s episode: we’re talking about how the future’s looking a little brighter for marriage equality, how scientists are recreating the power of the sun to get us closer to a sustainable energy future, how the information environments we’ve lived through have evolved, how we can be more evolved in how we each communicate, and the power of both teachers and music. Click here to listen to our new album Good to Me on your preferred service: https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/good-to-me