Firestarters with Shannon Watts

Nicole Locklin for US Congress is an attorney with more than a decade of legal experience, most recently serving as Lead Commercial Legal Counsel for Healthcare and Life Sciences at Databricks. She grew up in a town of about a thousand people in rural Oklahoma, where her parents ran a crop dusting business. A first generation college graduate who relied on student loans to earn her law degree, Nicole is now running as a Democrat for U.S. Congress in Florida's 26th District, challenging a twenty plus year incumbent and making the case that working families in South Florida...

Melissa Jun Rowley is an author, journalist, and global communications strategist whose career has taken her across some 75 countries, from the startup ecosystems of Silicon Valley and Beirut to the front lines of climate activism and conflict reporting. She has produced business news for CNN, reported for BBC News, co-founded a humanitarian tech platform with Peter Gabriel called The Toolbox, and most recently served as Director of Communications at the environmental nonprofit REVERB, leading campaigns with artists including Billie Eilish and Dave Matthews Band to mobilize fans around climate action. She is currently pursuing a Mid-Career Master in Public...

Dr. Dana Suskind is the Founder and Co-Director of the TMW Center for Early Learning and Public Health, and the Founding Director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program. She has dedicated her research and clinical work to optimizing foundational brain development, with an emphasis on helping parents and caregivers understand their power as brain architects. Her new book, Human Raised: Nurturing Connection, Curiosity and Lifelong Learning in the Age of AI, explores how families can stay grounded in human connection as AI becomes part of how kids learn, socialize, and think.

In this conversation, we went beyond...

Sarah Aviram is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and leadership coach who helps people navigate uncertainty and activate their own sense of agency. In 2019, she left her job as head of talent development at a New York tech company and spent 12 months living and working across 12 countries, from Latin America to Asia to Europe and South Africa, as part of a global research project on the future of remote work. Her new book, The Scenic Route: Following My Inner Compass Across 12 Countries in 12 Months, tells the personal side of that journey.

In this conversation, we talked about...

Dr. Lucy McBride is a primary care physician and co-founder of the Ackerly McBride Group in Washington, DC. For over 25 years, she has practiced evidence-based, relationship-centered medicine. A graduate of Princeton and Harvard Medical School, with a master's degree in Pharmacology from Cambridge as a Fulbright Scholar, she completed her internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She writes the weekly newsletter Are You Okay? and hosts the podcast Beyond the Prescription. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and USA Today. She has contributed to CNN, MSNBC, and PBS, advocating for a holistic, patient-centered approach...

Samara Bay has spent the last two decades helping leaders across culture with their public speaking and finding the words to bring rooms to life. Samara is also the author of the #1 bestselling business book, Permission to Speak. Her TEDx Talk The One Thing Every Great Speaker Does (And No One Teaches) is an Editor's Pick—a distinction given to fewer than .1% of talks.

In this conversation, we discussed how your whole body is involved in the process of public speaking, why people are afraid to speak up (and what trust has to do with it), how to...

Emily Amick is a lawyer, journalist, and political analyst who served as counsel to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. She created @EmilyinYourPhone to give people her insider insight into the political process and help them find ways they can take action. Her first book DEMOCRACY IN RETROGRADE: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives was an instant New York Times bestseller.

In this conversation, we discussed how reclaiming our place in democracy helps alleviate the doom spiral, how civic engagement can bring us together in community again, how we can...

Jessica Mackler is the president of EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, working to elect Democratic pro-choice women at every level of the ballot. She is a veteran political strategist known for her political smarts and sheer grit, and a dedication to doing whatever it takes to get the win. She has spent more than two decades in Democratic politics.

In this conversation, we discussed why it’s essential that the Democratic Party supports women candidates, Jessica’s experience as a Democrat, a woman, and as someone who runs an amazing organization that h...

Amber Goodwin is a lawyer, organizer, and public safety advocate who has spent her career working with communities and fighting for safety, health, and opportunity. She currently serves as an Assistant District Attorney in Travis County, where she is fighting the good fight against gun violence. She is running for Austin City Council because this moment demands leadership that listens, organizes, and delivers.

In this conversation, we discussed how the 2015 shooting in Charleston inspired her fight against gun violence, how you can accomplish big things with small groups of people, why she decided to run for Austin...

Ann Warner has spent more than two decades advocating for the rights of women, girls and gender-expansive people around the world. Today, she serves as Executive Director of the Collaborative for Gender + Reproductive Equity (CGRE), a growing community of donors and foundations uniting to advance gender, reproductive, and racial equity. Ann joined CGRE to grow its network of funder partners and grantee partners to build a movement of collective power that creates durable, lasting change. She also served as the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN), which is now one of the le...

Reshma Saujani, is a leading activist, an author, the founder of Girls Who Code, the founder and CEO of Moms First, host of My So-Called Midlife podcast, and executive producer of the new documentary No Country for Mothers. Named one of TIME’s Women of the Year in 2026, Reshma has spent more than a decade building movements to fight for women and girls’ empowerment.

In this conversation we discuss No Country for Mothers, which argues that American motherhood has been deliberately designed to divide and distract women through false culture-war choices like “trad wife vs. girl boss.” We also...

Kerry Docherty cofounded the lifestyle clothing brand Faherty with her husband and his identical twin. Kerry is someone who is passionate about using creativity and community to cultivate joy. Kerry is the author of the children’s book Somewhere, Right Now, and also recently published her memoir, Selfish, about rebelling against meeting other people's needs, and instead focusing on meeting her own.

In this conversation, we discussed how becoming a writer has always been Kerry’s dream, why she compares writing a memoir to an archaeological dig, how putting yourself first can be a gift to other peop...

Congressman D Goldman proudly represents New York’s 10th Congressional District. He’s running for re-election to get justice for our most vulnerable New Yorkers, tackle corruption and wealth inequality, and defend our democracy. Dan has spent his entire career as a public servant and, since joining Congress in 2022, Dan has emerged as one of the most effective progressive fighters in Washington.

In this conversation we discussed how the biggest concern Dan’s constituents in New York have is the economy and affordability, his proudest achievements in office and his priorities going forward (healthcare, immigration, and more), why th...

Susan Piver is the New York Times bestselling author of many books, but her latest is Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics. Susan has an international reputation as a skillful meditation teacher. She’s been a student of Buddhism since 1993, and in 2012, she founded The Open Heart Project, the world’s largest online-only dharma center.

In this conversation, we discussed what inspired Susan to write her latest book, why meditation is self-optimization and not just a “life hack”, how meditation wakes up our own wisdom, why the goal of Buddhism is to supersede the ego, how to balance being op...

Alexis McGill Johnson is is a longstanding champion for social and racial justice, a respected social and cultural organizer, and a tireless advocate for reproductive rights and access to high-quality, affordable health care. She is also the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood Federation of America, a national nonprofit organization that is the country’s most trusted name in sexual and reproductive health and rights.

In this conversation, we discussed why defunding Planned Parenthood threatens the full range of care that is offered (cancer screenings, birth control, STI testing, and so much more), the significant im...

Jordan Wood is a former Capitol Hill Chief of Staff and pro-democracy advocate. Barricaded at the Capitol during the January 6th Insurrection, Jordan recognized the threat of Trump’s election-denial movement and co-founded the bipartisan organization democracyFIRST to combat Trump’s attacks on our constitution and the rule of law. Now, Jordan is running for Congress in Maine and will fight to rein in Wall Street and Big Pharma, stop Trump’s lawless ICE agents from terrorizing Maine, and so much more.

In this conversation, we discussed how coming from a family of public service helped Jordan find h...

Michael D. Tubbs is running to be California’s next lieutenant governor to build a California future that sets the example for how government can work for everyone. He was Stockton’s first African-American mayor in 2016, and the youngest mayor of any major city at the age of 26. Under his leadership, Stockton saw a decline in homicides and officer involved shootings, as well as record low unemployment rates. Michael is also the Special Advisor to California Governor Gavin Newsom for Economic Mobility; the Founder of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income; and the Founder of End Poverty in California (EPIC).

Pia Dandiya is running for U.S. Congress in Florida’s 22nd District. A former public school teacher, high school principal, and White House Fellow, she has dedicated her career to expanding opportunity for working families through education and economic mobility. Born and raised in the district she now seeks to represent, Pia previously worked on workforce and economic policy at the White House Domestic Policy Council and later led public sector initiatives at Apple. She currently lives in Palm Beach Gardens with her husband and son.

In this conversation, we discussed the specific moment that inspired Pi...

Rachel Janfaza is the founder of The Up and Up, a research, media, and strategy firm focused on Gen Z. A member of Generation Z herself, Janfaza is best known for her theory of The Two Gen Zs. Her written work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, etc. And her on-air analysis has been featured on MSNOW, CNN, CBS, C-SPAN, and more.

In this conversation, we discussed what the theory of the two Gen Zs actually is, the different lived experiences of the pre- and post-COVID era for Gen Z, the...

Heather Haggarty is an attorney, mom, and now organizer. After Trump was elected in 2016, she realized that voting was not enough, and began to volunteer with grassroots organizations and campaigns. In October 2024, after watching traditional get-out-the-vote strategies fail with young voters, she and her Gen-Z daughter launched Donuts + Democracy.

In this conversation, we discussed how Donuts + Democracy came to be, why it’s so important to reach and educate young voters, how low voter turnout in young people isn’t necessarily about apathy but frustration, and what advice Heather would give to women who have an idea but...

Matt Mahan is the Democratic Mayor of San José and a candidate for Governor, running to get California back to basics by lowering costs, ending unsheltered homelessness, improving public safety, and expanding economic opportunity. Elected to the San José City Council in 2020 and as Mayor in 2022, Mahan has focused on accountability and outcomes. Under his leadership, San José has reduced unsheltered homelessness, expanded shelter capacity, streamlined housing development, and strengthened public safety. Re-elected in 2024 with nearly 90% of the vote, he is now running for Governor to bring a results-driven, back-to-basics approach to state government.

In this conversation, we...

Liuba Grechen Shirley is the Founder and CEO of Vote Mama, an interconnected trio of organizations dedicated to electing mothers, transforming the political system, and advancing family-friendly policies. Liuba's career highlights include her historic congressional campaign for New York’s 2nd District, where she achieved the highest vote share of any Democrat against the incumbent in 25 years and raised over $2 million without corporate PAC money. And she also made history as the first woman to receive federal approval to spend campaign funds on childcare.

In this conversation, we discussed what motivated Liuba to get into politics, the bi...

Atima Omara is a nationally recognized award-winning political strategist, leader, writer, speaker, and advocate who’s worked in progressive electoral politics and issue advocacy for the last two decades. She’s also the author of the brand new book, The Instigators: How Black Women Have Been Essential to American Democracy (And What We Can Learn from Them).

In this conversation, we discussed Atima’s book and what inspired her to write it, the writing process as a first-time author, the challenges Black women face when running for office, and how we can best support Black women’s campaign...

Rep. Gwen Moore was elected to represent Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District in 2004, making her the first African American elected to Congress from the State of Wisconsin. With over 40 years of public service, she has been at the forefront of some of our nation’s most significant legislative achievements and has gained the reputation of a fearless advocate for women and children.

In this conversation, we discussed what women, in particular, need to know about the SAVE Act, Rep. Moore’s responses to Republicans who say that the SAVE Act is just a voter ID bill, how Trump’...

lauren harper is the legislative director for the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Gun Violence and grassroots organizer dedicated to tackling the root causes of gun violence in Illinois. Dr. Anthony Douglas II, MD MPH, is a surgical resident at the University of Chicago and the founder of the nation’s first Surgical Advocacy Fellowship.

In this conversation, we discussed what brought them both into the gun violence prevention advocacy and policy space, why grassroots activism is so important especially when it comes to gun laws, what the RIFL Act is and who it helps, and why shifting th...

Nourbese Flint is the President of All* Above All and All* In Action Fund, leading All* Above All’s work to achieve abortion justice and build the political power of voters of color. Prior to coming to All* Above All, she was the Senior Director of Black Engagement at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where she worked on the strategic partnership to strengthen Planned Parenthood’s relationships within existing racial justice, reproductive justice, Black serving and civil rights organizations. Nourbese is a founding member of Trust Black Women, a national coalition dedicated to increasing respect and support of Black Women, a...

Amy Diehl, Ph.D. is an award-winning IT leader and Chief Information Officer at Wilson College, as well as a leading gender equity researcher. She is the author of Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work and a sought-after speaker, consultant, and expert witness. Driven by a commitment to advancing gender equality, she helps organizations dismantle systemic barriers so women can advance and workplaces can thrive.

In this conversation, we discussed how (beyond the horrible sexual abuse and trafficking) the Epstein files also brought to light the casual misogyny and s...

Jenn Sherman is my favorite Peloton star trainer who was the very first cycling instructor hired at Peloton Interactive. She’s also the founder of The Back Nine Era, and her goal is to redefine life after 50 by training for longevity, health, and strength.

In this conversation, we discussed how Jenn became a Peloton trainer in her 40s and how it’s never too late to make a pivot in your life, how imposter syndrome still rears its ugly head no matter what you’ve accomplished, why community is an important part of women’s health and fitness...

Stefanie O'Connell is an award-winning journalist covering money, power, and ambition whose work has been published in Slate, Bloomberg, Newsweek, USA Today, Glamour UK, Business Insider, and CNBC.com. She wrote, hosted, and co-produced Real Simple magazine’s Webby Award–winning podcast Money Confidential and publishes the Too Ambitious newsletter. She’s also the author of the upcoming book, The Ambition Penalty: How Corporate Culture Tells Women to Step Up―and Then Pushes Them Down.

In this conversation, we discussed the biggest obstacle to women’s opportunity and wealth, the myths surrounding gender equality and workplace bias, what the “...

Dr. Annie Andrews has spent her career as a pediatrician fighting for children and families, and now she is taking that fight to the Senate. She is a mom and Democrat running to unseat Lindsey Graham in South Carolina. After nearly two decades in children’s hospitals, Annie saw how Washington’s failures reach all the way into her hospital room every day. Kids shot in their own neighborhoods, parents forced to ration medication, families unable to find mental health care. So she got involved in advocacy and policy—and what she saw in the halls of power appalled her. W...

Dr. Heidi Lescanec has been a licensed naturopathic doctor in British Columbia for over 25 years, a trained anthropologist, and founder of The Pink Zones—a global and grassroots search for the places, people, and practices where women are thriving through midlife and beyond. She also focuses on hormone and digestive health and culinary nutrition. In her previous work, she saw the transformative power of traditional styles of healing that addressed the health of the whole person, body, and mind, and it inspired her to pursue studying naturopathic medicine. She aims to reach more women who believe the second half of...

Juliana Stratton is the Lt. Governor of Illinois and a candidate for the U.S. Senate. Juliana is also a mom, a caregiver, a Chicago South Sider, and a fighter for the people of Illinois. Alongside Governor JB Pritzker, she’s spent the last decade working to make life more affordable and expand opportunities for the middle class, and now she’s ready to bring that blueprint to Washington.

In this conversation, we discussed Juliana’s political journey and why she decided to run for Senate, why it’s imperative to stand up to Donald Trump and his admi...

Oona Metz is a Boston-based psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience supporting women through the emotional, psychological, and identity shifts of divorce. She is also a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, a Certified Group Psychotherapist, and her practice is focused on individual adults and group therapy. She specializes in working with women+ who are in transition. She is also the author of Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide For Women, about how women can navigate the emotional side of divorce and emerge stronger, more confident, and ready to thrive.

In this conversation, we discussed the struggles women face...

Dr. Maria Sophocles is a board-certified OB/GYN and a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. She is a nationally recognized thought leader in menopause and female sexual function, and a frequent panelist and speaker for women’s health advocacy, investment, and policy. She is also the author of The Bedroom Gap: Rewrite the Rules and Roles of Sex in Mid Life (available on February 10th), which offers a roadmap for midlife women, couples, clinicians and anyone wanting to understand – and change – how we age, sexually speaking.

In this conversation, we discussed why sex ed in schools needs to be rev...

Thank you Marcus Flowers, Lisa Schreiber NBC-HWC, Author, Maximilian Hardy, dcdiversity, Caroline Pompizzi, and many others for tuning into my live video with Daniel Biss! Join me for my next live video in the app.

Jennifer Wallace is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author who explores the power of mattering in everyday life. Her first book, Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic — And What We Can Do About It, was a New York Times Bestseller, an Amazon Best Book of the Year, and a Next Big Idea selection. Her forthcoming book Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose, will be published on January 27th. Jennifer is also the founder of The Mattering Institute, whose mission is to create cultures of mattering in workplaces and communities.

In this co...

Mikala Jamison is an award-winning journalist, the creator of the bestselling Body Type newsletter, and a health and culture writer for outlets like The Atlantic and The Washington Post. She has worked as a certified group fitness instructor and trained as a competitive powerlifter, and also created the body-image focused live storytelling show, The Body Show.

In this conversation, we discussed her experience with a binge eating disorder, the power of strength training, and how to get help for the people in your life who are struggling with body image.

Connect with Mikala: Substack | Instagram<...

Malynda Hale is a multi-hyphenate content creator, award-winning actress, and singer based in Los Angeles who uses her voice and platform to drive meaningful conversations around activism, justice, and human rights through digital media and storytelling. During our conversation, Malynda and I discuss her spiritual journey, how activism and faith can go hand in hand, and how she handles the blowback she gets for attempting nuance online. Malynda also tells us about The New Evangelicals, her new nonprofit focused on confronting Christian nationalism and redefining Christian activism.

Connect with Malynda: Website | Instagram | Substack

For women...

Society often telegraphs that there is just one way to experience grief, but widow, cancer survivor, and author Lisa Keefauver wants us to know that grief can and should be allowed to be experienced in multiple ways. During our conversation, Lisa shared some of the insights from her book, “Grief is a Sneaky B***h: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss,” including something she refers to as “the grief time warp,” how to handle “grief thieves,” and how to break the isolation often felt by grievers in a culture obsessed with productivity.

Connect with Lisa: Buy the Book | Insta...

We’ve been talking about imposter syndrome, specifically in the workplace, this week. I was grateful to talk with Dr. Amy Diehl and Leanne Dzubinski, the co-authors of “Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work.”

Together, they share with us the six gender bias barriers and how they are affecting women every single day across all industries, as well as how these systems, built for and by men, are holding women back.

After watching the replay, be sure to check out the other pieces in this series:

* Wh...