Chop Wood Carry Water with Jessica Craven

Virtue Consists in Action

Jess talks evergreen family mottoes, WTF with the ERA, and why the Build Back Better Plan means taxing Jeff Bezon more effectively (definitely text SIGN PIRAME to 50409!)

Spend Your Vote Wisely

Jess talks great new CA legislation, her hatred of leaf-blowers, AT&T’s crush on facscism, and the TP that’s killing our planet. Find out more about all of it at bit.ly/j

Wait a Minute, Mr. Postman!

Jess's computer display dies moments before taping, leading to an all-from-memory discussion of great new CA legislation, signs of COVID hope, what's wrong at the USPS, a

Courage First!

Jess talks about the overlap between politics and spirituality, China’s move away from coal, EPA’s move towards cleaner refrigerants, vaccine equity, good moves by Democr

Dream of A Better Country

Jess talks about the Recall victory (!!), Biden’s modified filibuster stance, victories in North Carolina, Colorado and New York, the Build Back Better Plan (which *would

Activism and the Mom Fail

Jess talks the dangers of “hyper-activism," good news for Bristol Bay, bad news for chasing-arrow abusers, VACCINE MANDATES!, the joys of canvassing, and stickers for cho

Some Small Part

Jess talks activist overload (or “large horizon” syndrome), the *$#*^& RECALL, Frances Perkins and the Triangle Shirtwaist fire, the Child Tax Credit, local politics (and

Make It Happen

Jessica offers an inspiring quote from R. Hubbell, celebrates good news from Virginia, California, and New York — Marsha P. Johnson!-- talks about SCOTUS and why pushing

Do activism. Not vice versa.

Jess talks about chlorpyrifos, Scott Pruitt, Georgia’s “miraculous" voter registration numbers, North Carolina’s voter enfranchisement decision, and FINALLY FDA approval!

They work for you!

Yikes. A stressful week! Jess finds things to be grateful for, talks about the courts (the courts the courts!), reminds us that elections have consequences, gives an upda

Hope is an axe, hon.

Jess talks Rebecca Solnit, hope in tough times, the evils of Amazon, leveraging the IPCC report, Infrastructure deal-o-rama, and supporting the Warrior Met strikers in Al

Purgatory Edition

Jess talks about the Hyde Amendment, LeBron James, paternity leave for Congressmen, wild horses, Line 3 Pipeline, and the looming eviction crisis. Plus, the perspective g

False Evidence Appearing Real

Chopping wood and carrying water through this week’s ups and downs, Jess talks about the Cleveland Guardians, Louise Erdrich, a strike resolved at Frito Lay, the GQP reca

Texas Dems Bring It

Jess celebrates the Child Tax Credit, cheaper insulin, vanished Confederate statues, and a rare gesture of decency from ICE. She also explains an easy way to help reduce

Feel the Brnovich

Jessica talks about the many good things that happened last week—including Rudy’s likely disbarment, the Trump Org's indictment, a pause on federal executions, and more—a

Water Your Democracy!

Jess talks about Juneteenth, the ACA, what real racial justice looks like, the midterms (again!) and what this week’s call to your Senator should sound like.

Use Your Dash Well

Jessica talks Lyndon Johnson and the Voting Rights Act, where we’re at with Joe Manchin, and what’s next with the For the People Act. Plus Trump gets reversed—a lot--and

Bitter to Have Loved

Jess covers victories in rooftop solar, healthcare, carceral justice, and on Facebook, then tackles Joe Manchin…again, and tells you how to help pass a bill preventing se

Take to the Oars

Jessica has thoughts—and some nautical metaphors--on Congress’s stalemate, the filibuster, and why each of us needs to start rowing hard, now. Also, a bad environmental b

Step On the Train

Jess talks Heather Cox Richardson talking Frederick Douglass, shares gratitude for progressive victories last week, revisits the abortion question—do you know where YOUR