Musician, poet, and water protector Sunni (Sunni’i) Leilani joins us to talk about flowing her way into “love activism” which found its roots in early recovery from trauma, inspiration from the music of Prince, and milestones like Standing Rock, where over 500 indigenous tribes gathered in 2016-2017 to protest construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Creating art and fostering meaningful connections can knit together what’s broken in the world, or as Sunni might say: “beauty is encapsulated in purple ice, and the only thing that can free it is sunshine.”

Audrey and Patrick round out the episode by touching on recent news like the Cornell University and Jane Doe sexual assault lawsuit, the bigoted political targeting of Ilhan Omar by the Trump administration, and Alejandro González Iñárritu’s remarkable new film “Digger,” an essential cultural touchstone for our moment exploring oligarchy and climate catastrophe.

Above all looms the upcoming November midterm elections, where progressive challengers will battle entrenched institutional power and Americans can seize their best opportunity yet to tell Donald Trump to go fuck himself.

Everything related to Sunni and her craft can be found on her website: www.sunnii.net

Opening quote by Cornel West, from Robinson’s Podcast

Find the full episode @robinsonerhardt

Rest in Peace R.J. Mitte <3

Episode title music is “Wisteria Dreams” by SUNNI’i

From the album “Wisteria Dreams In Purple Ice”

Music and lyrics by Sunni Leilani

℗ Night Owl Earth Angel

Studio Producer: Tyrel Collins

Recording Engineer: Tyrel Collins

Mastering Engineer: Tyrel Collins

Mixing Engineer: Tyrel Collins

Co- Producer: SUNNI'i

Guitar ( Acoustic): Sunni Leilani

Guitar ( Electric): Kyle Saxe

Keyboard: Leah Elizabeth

Bass: Tyrel Collins

Drums: Yoji Sera

Vocal: Sunni Leilani

Links for Sunni’s music:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0woF4J4E6rtB

https://sunnileilani.bandcamp.com/

https://music.youtube.com/@sunnileilani3709

https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCfXWy

https://music.amazon.com/artists/BOGRJM6P

Main logo art by Patrick Mitchell and Angelina Harvey (@graffitifucks on Instagram)

Main show theme is “Strangers” by Midnight Prisms

Music and lyrics by Alicia Beck

Music and production by Max Foreman

Mastering by Little Castle Sound

Please follow and listen to Midnight Prisms on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o5jiLSZMoSXNWL98UBxYI?si=sK-K7IoUSp-QfFKgUwVY7A

This month we talk about Israel and the language surrounding Zionism, holding fast to our belief in equal dignity and rights for all people. Audrey visits a Seattle town hall featuring Pramila Jayapal about January 6th and the creeping threat of white nationalism. Hasan Piker’s bid to elect Socialists and progressives to Senate and Congressional seats, challenging the Democratic establishment, kicks the big donor hornet’s nest. In Audrey’s clinical work, clients lose medicaid, housing, food and transportation, which sometimes leads to suicides. DSA’s recent electoral advances kindle our hope that democracy might one day deliver the material support and challenge to imperial violence people around the world are desperately seeking.

Opening quote by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI)

Main show theme is “Strangers” by Midnight Prisms

Music and lyrics by Alicia Beck

Music and production by Max Foreman

Mastering by Little Castle Sound

Please follow and listen to Midnight Prisms on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o5jiLSZMoSXNWL98UBxYI?si=sK-K7IoUSp-QfFKgUwVY7A

Main logo art by Patrick Mitchell and Angelina Harvey (@graffitifucks on Instagram)

• (00:00:00) - DSA Resolution and Corporate Greed Speech
• (00:01:18) - Intro to Outside Issues Podcast
• (00:01:23) - Confronting a Zionist Rabbi's Microaggression
• (00:05:02) - Debating Genocide, Murder, and Legal Definitions
• (00:05:54) - Zionism, Trauma-Informed Language, and DSA Divisions
• (00:08:16) - Navigating Confrontation and Solidarity with Jewish Allies
• (00:09:42) - Finkelstein on Jewish Supremacy vs Zionism
• (00:11:03) - Personal Reflections on Being Called Colonizer/Bigot
• (00:14:46) - Nothing to Feel Guilty About
• (00:15:42) - Hasan Piker's Political Campaigning and Backlash
• (00:17:45) - Democratic Establishment's Fear and Media Silence on Hasan
• (00:21:21) - Dope of Hope and Town Hall Seattle Talk on Christian Nationalism
• (00:23:51) - Staying Informed Without Burnout
• (00:26:45) - Emotional Labor, Hope, and Systemic Frustration
• (00:29:38) - Voting as Material Relief and Political Opportunity
• (00:32:51) - Generational Shift Away from Boomer Politics
• (00:36:27) - Age of Abundance and Entrenched Capital
• (00:38:50) - Obama Hope Nostalgia and Lessons Learned

This month we sit down with mother, wife, addiction counselor, and former dockworker Lorie E. Garcia, who decades in recovery still speaks at meetings, sponsors women and fosters animals to square herself with a God of her understanding. We talk about the Steps, immigrant advocacy, and healing from racism and misogynous traumas through not only the rooms of AA but therapy and “outside help.”

Opening quote by U.S. Senate nominee Angie Nixon

Main show theme is “Strangers” by Midnight Prisms

Music and lyrics by Alicia Beck

Music and production by Max Foreman

Mastering by Little Castle Sound

Please follow and listen to Midnight Prisms on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o5jiLSZMoSXNWL98UBxYI?si=sK-K7IoUSp-QfFKgUwVY7A

Main logo art by Patrick Mitchell and Angelina Harvey (@graffitifucks on Instagram)

• (00:00:00) - Are radical issues worth fighting for?
• (00:01:07) - One woman's story of Alcoholics Anonymous
• (00:09:08) - One Mother's Battle With Alcohol
• (00:13:35) - How the Steps Polishes Your Rough Skin
• (00:17:50) - Post-Trauma Therapy for Substance Use Disorder
• (00:23:34) - How Did You Heal the Trauma Around Racism?
• (00:25:38) - Trump supporters speak out about racism
• (00:31:36) - The Need for Treatment for Substance Use
• (00:35:10) - Longshore Women speak out about the challenges
• (00:36:22) - Pro-Unions: I Love My Union
• (00:43:23) - 72-Year-Old Woman Rescues Three Cats and Three