If you do not value libraries then you do not value information or culture or wisdom. You are silencing the voices of the past and you are damaging the future.                                                            -Neil Gaiman When most of us think of the public library we think of musty smells, old librarians judging us over their readers reminding us that we are breaking the cardinal rule of the library by whispering to one another. But what would happen if we thought of libraries in the context of what they actually do? This week, Amanda speaks with Brooklyn Public Library’s Chief Librarian, Nick Higgins, Library Journal named ‘Mover and Shaker’.  Amanda and Nick talk about the history of libraries, and why access to information continues to be a threat to those in power. Nick explains why the Dewey Decimal System is problematic and Amanda instigates an unintentional pop quiz of the five library laws of science.  Nick explains the correlation between literacy, poverty, intentional underfunding, and what an ideal outreach program looks like. Serving over half a million card holders, BPL strives to be an institution that responds to the needs of the public it serves; a democratic space where everyone is welcome regardless of age, gender or ethnic group. It turns out, the library is much more of a political powerhouse than it gets credit for, and Amanda is ready to get libraries on the next presidential ballot. This week’s episode is brought to you by Masks By Bree, handmade masks from the Hudson Valley. New designs uploaded every Tuesday. Use code QUESTION25 for 25% off your order.     Follow Nick Higgins on Twitter and the Brooklyn Public Library on Instagram and Twitter   Follow Amanda on Twitter and Instagram  Follow the show on Instagram  Thoughts? More questions? Email the show!

Can a poop onesie be a brand? Short answer: yes (an anatomically correct vagina is next).  This week Amanda tries not to get too personal while speaking with pelvic physical therapist, Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas of Greater Boston Urology about pelvic health. You know, your internal banana hammock that no one thinks about nearly as much as they should?  Dr. Jeffrey-Thomas talks about her COVID pivot to spreading accurate information to the masses via TikTok and Instagram, and how she is able to approach pelvic health from a more holistic standpoint with her co-worker and surgeon, Dr. Angel Johnson.  Your pelvis holds A LOT OF STUFF, and synchronicity is more important than you think. Amanda gets the scoop on hovering over a public (or any) toilet seat, peeing in the shower, kegels -- which may not be the answer you need, why am I leaking (am I leaking?), and what in God’s name is the Bristol Stool Scale? With great knowledge comes great responsibility about how your body works; you are going to be thinking about this all week.  Follow the Pelvic Health Ladies on Instagram and TikTok  Follow Amanda on Twitter and Instagram  Follow the podcast on Instagram  Support The Missing Sock Network on Patreon   Thoughts? More questions? Email the show!  

This week Amanda talks content creation with Andrew Cohen and Ryan Kieffer of Confidential Creative in Los Angeles along with queer country artist, Paisley Fields. With so many options these days for creating content (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch), the possibilities are endless, but what does it look like when you actually want to get an idea off the ground? The answer: just do it and figure it out as you go.   With backgrounds in PR and law, Andrew and Ryan talk about how they teamed up after high school to start Confidential Creative, an incubator and animation studio. They discuss the importance of sharing the workload, not waiting on others to give permission to move forward with a good idea, and the fear of pursuing an option that seems outside of the realm of expectations.   Paisley talks about learning from failure, what trust means to him when working with other creators, and creating the Paisley Show as a way to stay connected with other artists. They talk about steps they’ve all taken to get their foot in the door, and what they do to stay connected with their network, fans, and potential collaborators by being persistent but not annoying (there’s a difference).  The three of them (with Amanda) tease a project in development; an animated series that centers around Paisley’s experience working in a piano bar in the village in Manhattan with a LGBTQ+ cast of characters.    Follow Confidential Creative on Instagram here and here Follow Paisley Fields on Instagram and Twitter Follow Amanda on Instagram and Twitter Follow the show on Instagram  Thoughts? More questions? Email the show! [email protected]

How do you solve a problem like Maria? Vows? Retreats? Motherhouses? This week Amanda speaks with Quincy Howard, OP, about her path to becoming a woman religious. From Texas, to New Orleans, to Wisconsin, to Atlanta and to D.C., Quincy spent a lot of time thinking that this life probably wasn’t going to be for her. With a background in urban planning and time in the Peace Corps, a chance encounter (and slight miscommunication) with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa put her on the path to reconnecting with communities; work that she found didn’t exist as she climbed the corporate ranks in her professional life.  Quincy shares with Amanda what she’s learned during this process (what confirmation?), and how it’s fulfilled her in ways that she never would have expected. She explains how each congregation has their own ‘flavor’, but vows remain the same (though celibacy isn’t quite what you think it is), and that being around nuns is like being around 200 grandmothers. The two discuss Quincy’s current mission on Capitol Hill, how the political landscape is mirroring the Catholic one, and what Pope Francis means when he says marriage equality.   Follow Quincy Howard, OP on Twitter @sisterquincy Email Sister Quincy [email protected] Check out The Network https://networklobby.org/   Follow the show on Instagram @ihaveaquestionthepodcast Follow Amanda on Twitter and Instagram @amandavannos Follow Missing Sock Network on Instagram @missingsocknetwork   Thoughts? More questions? Email the show! [email protected]

Amanda is her own guest this week as she discusses what she’s learned over the past few weeks. Amanda talks about her own insecurities in discussing politics and what has made this topic so intimidating. How has having good manners prevented her from speaking up when she thinks that something is wrong? When crying makes a point moot and protesting is disturbing the peace, how is anyone supposed to be heard? Amanda discusses recent political invocations like the US Constitution and Abraham Lincoln and how our founding fathers would have been terrible at hosting a party. How do we move on from here? What needs to be recognized before we can move forward with progress? Will we ever take into account the needs of those around us? WHY IS SEEING BOTH SIDES SO MUCH WORK? Follow the show on Instagram @ihaveaquestionthepodcast Follow Amanda on Twitter and Instagram @amandavannos Follow Missing Sock Network on Instagram @missingsocknetwork   Thoughts? More questions? Email the show! [email protected]

Amanda is paying attention and feels like she knows less.    Let’s just dive right in, shall we?  Amanda wants to know if our election process is fair. Why does it seem like some countries have it figured out and America is still over here trying to screw in a friggin’ lightbulb? Clearly there isn’t a way to have a one size fits all approach to a nation so large, but it seems like we don’t even have a say in choices being made at all (Electoral College, heard of it?). Why are communities of color less incentivized to vote? Is voting a right or a responsibility?     This week, Amanda is joined by NYU professor and political scientist Andrea Jones-Rooy, Ph.D. to discuss voter suppression. Andrea explains the ways in which people are prevented from making decisions that would be beneficial to our future. Autonomy generally seems like a good idea, but that tends to not work as well for a team mentality. And how about this slice: people in power have incentives to make voting difficult because they don’t want to lose.  How do we get people to care about ‘D’? Andrea also shares the greatest equation of all time when discussing the personal ‘cost’ of voting.  Check out ‘Ask A Political Scientist’ on YouTube, Thursdays at 7pm EST ‘The Anger Gap: How Race Shapes Emotion In Politics’ by Davin Phoenix Follow Andrea on Twitter and Instagram @jonesrooy   Follow the show on Instagram @ihaveaquestionthepodcast Follow Amanda on Twitter and Instagram @amandavannos   Thoughts? More questions? Email the show! [email protected]  

What a week! Amanda feels like she's been playing political whack-a-mole and puts a call out to Google to help state websites with their accessibility--why is everything so hard? Amanda had the opportunity to sit down with Sarah Rosier, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Ballotpedia. Amanda needed a civics class refresher and Sarah delivered (who has what job, again?). Sarah put a spotlight on the importance of the census as well as the power of staying focused and informed about statewide elections. They also discussed the divisiveness occurring on both sides, and what happened to politicians making choices to benefit the nation as a whole. Also what in the the hell is a ‘special election’ and when did term limits get so sexy? What made this conversation especially great, is the Ballotpedia focus on neutrality. There was NO LEANING in this episode.  Sarah encourages doing the homework and using the Ballotpedia sample ballot, available on their website, to prepare you for what is on your state’s ballot this November.    Follow Ballotpedia on Twitter @ballotpedia Stay up to date with elections in your state by checking out www.ballotpedia.com   Follow the show on Instagram @ihaveaquestionthepodcast Follow Amanda on Twitter and Instagram @amandavannos   Thoughts? More questions? Email the show! [email protected]  

There are a number of issues that are not at the forefront during this election cycle and Amanda needs some clarification, so she’s starting with something near and dear: women AND politics. Amanda had the opportunity to sit down with Christina Reynolds, Vice President of Communications at EMILY’s List and find out: What goes into running for office? Why the disparity of female representation? What is the female vote? Why does it matter what ethnicity is voting? How do we get women on the same page with so many differing views?  Christina encourages women to hold people in power accountable and highlights the positive effects of social media.    Are you registered to vote? Check out your state's deadline here   Follow Christina on Twitter @creynoldsnc Donate to EMILY’s List: https://www.emilyslist.org/donate   Follow Amanda on Twitter and Instagram @amandavannos Thoughts? More questions? Email the show! [email protected]