Talking about the elephant in the room

Have you ever received a free cosmetics sample that you loved at the beginning, but didn’t end up working out? That happened to be a couple of years ago with a gorgeous Dior lipstick.

I loved everything about it. Except after two days of wearing it, I woke up on the third day looking like Lisa Rinna with overfilled lips.

And, great news, I was headed into a client meeting that morning to talk about…wait for it…topics you’d rather not talk about with your customers. You know, the things you’d really rather ignore.

So guess what we talked about? Continue reading

Women’s rights, trans rights, gay rights: there’s a connection

Remember last summer when the overturn of Roe vs. Wade was shocking, and we were asking ourselves how this could have happened? When I talked to Dahlia Lithwick last fall, I asked her how this could happen in the United States, and she pointed out that the systems that are in place have made it possible. Take a look at this 6-minute video clip.

Spoiler alert: we can win all of the lawsuits and vote and vote and vote, but if the system is this distorted from the popular will, then it’s the system that’s the problem.

Since then MAGA Republicans have continued their assault on our rights: a woman’s right to birth control, trans rights, LGBTQ rights, book banning.

Dahlia’s book, Lady Justice, covers the trauma that we’ve faced as a nation, not just recently but for decades. And she recounts time and time again examples of change happening, despite the overwhelming odds.

Moral: the only way change happens is when women stand up.

Fish where the fish are

This week there has been a lot of focus on two things:

  1. The former MAGA president’s impending indictment and
  2. What will happen with TikTok.

I can’t control the outcomes in either case, so there’s no point in worrying. But the uncertainty around TikTok reminded me of this: you’ve gotta fish where the fish are.

When my friend Finale dragged me over to TikTok last year she understood what I did not: that I needed to be fishing there if I wanted to catch anything. Because TikTok is where my audience lives.

Consider these TikTok statistics: Continue reading

Women Who TikTok

My friend Finale Norton pushed me onto–errrrr, I mean “inspired me to join” TikTok April 2022. I told her I’d draft 100 TikToks, and see if it was worth it. One hundred TikToks later…yes, she was right. I found my community on TikTok.

So when Finale asked me to interview some women who were making a profound impact using their voices on TikTok, I got to work. Gary Carter Green from You Can’t Beat Blue produced this 3-minute video of the 5 women I talked to. Take a look.

It was a thrill to appear with Finale on Network NoVA’s Friday Power Lunch as she introduced the video, and I got to talk with the other panelists about the importance of TikTok in political organizing. You can watch our segment at the 17:27 mark.

Spoiler alert: here’s why it’s important to be on TikTok: We all need to be in all the places because the messenger is just as important as the message.

 

 

Gavin Newsom stands up to Walgreens and Republican Bullies

I’m not sure why the Republican Party is determined to keep attacking women and undermining our freedoms but here we are. They are clearly bullies, and the latest organization to cave to them is Walgreens. Thank goodness Gavin Newsom has the balls to take a stance.

Take a look at a 5-minute clip from a conversation I had yesterday with two of my friends. My favorite may be Finale’s and my response to Gary’s mansplaining the morning after pill.

Who uses the term “woke”?

Have you ever had a conversation about wokeness? Has anyone ever asked you about it?

No one has ever asked me a question about “wokeness,” or even brought it up in conversation. Do people even know what that means?

I have a theory. Take a look.

@maryrarick

I’m suspicious. What does woke mean to you? #woketok #woke #foxnews #fauxnews #rightwing #democratsoftiktok #democrats

♬ Wake Up Call (Made Popular By Maroon 5) [Vocal Version] – Party Tyme Karaoke

Why I speak up about racism

Talking about racism is exhausting. I agree. But the truth is that I get to choose when to step into the arena. There’s a certain privilege in that. Here’s why I continue to show up.

@maryrarick

Replying to @khalilove12 Why do you continue to speak up? #ww #wyt #whitepeople #whitegirl #whitewomen #speakup #whiteprivilege #privilege #checkyourself #blm #blackwomen #blackwomenappreciation

♬ Epic Music(863502) – Draganov89

In short, I speak up because it’s my duty and privilege to do so. Will you join me?

Is Bill Maher’s show still worth watching?

  • Is college still worth attending?
  • Is Bill Maher’s show still worth watching?
  • Where can we find enough electoral college votes to cancel Tennessee’s?Gary, Finale, Adrienne and I discuss on this 3-minute You Can’t Beat Blue segment. Take a look and let me know what you think. 

Like what you’re seeing? Go to You Can’t Beat Blue and subscribe to all of our videos.

What’s the starting salary for graduates from WIU?

I recently learned what the average starting salary for graduates from my alma mater, Western Illinois University, and I can’t get over it. Take a look.

@maryrarick

Is it worth it? #college #undergrad #startingsalary #highereducation #highered

♬ original sound – Mary Rarick

We have a serious problem, because these recent college graduates have a lot more student debt than I did 30 years ago.

What do you think? Is it worth it?