Shahida shares her powerful journey to Malaysia to say goodbye to her estranged father who was dying of stage four cancer. After decades of distance and unresolved trauma from his departure when she was five, she arrived expecting closure—but received something far more profound: his honest acknowledgment, his request for forgiveness, and the gift of being present for his final moments. This deeply personal conversation explores abandonment, forgiveness, the lasting impact of childhood trauma, what it means to reconcile with the past, and how death can be unexpectedly beautiful when surrounded by love and family. A must-listen for anyone navigating complex family relationships or wondering what truly matters at the end of life.

Mindy and Shahida reunite on She The People to unpack what they’re seeing in the Epstein files and the disturbing pattern of power moving without accountability. From the role of wealth, influence, and propaganda to the online pipeline that fuels misogyny and the far right, they talk through why so many people feel overwhelmed, and why staying informed still matters. They also break down the SAVE Act and what voter suppression can look like in practice—especially for women who’ve changed their names. The episode closes with a reminder to avoid burnout, pick one issue, take action, and keep showing up.

Mindy goes solo with Iowa State Rep. JD S to talk Scholten about what it’s like organizing as one of the only Democrats across 42 counties in northwest Iowa—and why 2026 could determine whether Iowa swings back purple or locks in deeper red. They unpack the nonstop news cycle (including the Epstein files), the risk of burnout, and why local action and coalition-building are the only way through the chaos. JD shares lessons from his underdog runs for Congress, his anti-monopoly economic message, and practical ways everyday people can stay engaged and make change where they live.

Mindy and Andy connect the everyday dismissal women face to a broader pattern of discrediting experts, consolidating media power, and escalating political violence—and talk through what organizing and disruption could look like.

In this episode, we talk with Cole and Andee about what it means to escape a high-control religious system — and the cost of choosing freedom.

Cole shares his experience growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, breaking away in his late teens and early twenties, and losing nearly everything he had ever known: his community, family, friends, job, and identity. He also opens up about the widespread sexual abuse he witnessed within the church and the institution’s failure to protect its members.

Today, Cole is living as his authentic self and helping others who are trying to leave similar systems behind. This is a conversation about courage, grief, and rebuilding your life from the ground up.

In this episode of She the People, Mindy is joined by her cousin-in-law Andy for a wide-ranging, no-BS conversation about apathy—why it spreads, why it’s dangerous, and why “it won’t happen to me” is one of the most costly lies we tell ourselves. Using Jane Goodall’s warning that apathy is the greatest danger to our future, they unpack how comfort, individualism, and political fatigue keep people frozen even as rights erode and propaganda intensifies. From history’s warning signs to the everyday excuses we hide behind (“I’m too busy,” “I don’t like the wording”), Mindy and Andy push one core message: neutrality helps the loudest and worst voices win. They close with an actionable call to get out of your comfort zone—start small, stay consistent, and choose collective action over doomscrolling.

With Shahida out, Mindy talks with her cousin-in-law Andy from Northern Idaho about how abortion bans and political extremism are reshaping everyday life. They cover hospital and OB unit closures, doctors leaving, and the growing dangers and costs of getting basic care in rural communities. They also unpack Idaho’s culture shift—racism, harassment, public school decline, and “freedom” rhetoric that often means unequal freedom—then end with what helps: community, protests, and small actions that build momentum.

Mindy and Shahida do a holiday throwback to their all-women maternal/child health Peace Corps group in Morocco—starting with 2005 training, then being sent to remote sites where travel took days and life was intense but oddly simple. They reflect on Peace Corps’ bigger purpose: cross-cultural exchange, building empathy on both sides (especially during the Iraq era), and how the experience made them more resourceful and confident.

Then they swap classic stories: Shahida’s sister mails her a garden gnome that she has to open in front of an official, and the gnome becomes a running joke the group “kidnaps” with ransom notes. They revisit the time they went surfing in Taghazout and realized their hotel host was stealing from guests—until they confronted it, got most of their money back, and bailed. The episode wraps with favorite holiday memories—Thanksgiving packages, “Christ is bringing rum,” and the legendary inside joke that turned into a surprise recorder performance at a wedding in Wales—ending on how Morocco was hard, hilarious, and unforgettable.