The Antidote to Despair is Agency
Our conversation with John and Cindy Mulligan, the Owensboro retirees who answered political hopelessness by starting a nonpartisan super PAC in their deep red Kentucky town.
How many conversations did I have this week about feelings of sluggish dread when it comes to politics this week? Four. Four in two days. We all feel it. The sense that we’re just waiting for Trump to leave (or….). We’re waiting for the midterms. We’re waiting for 2028. Well, John and Cindy Mulligan decided to stop waiting and I think there’s something to learn from them. These two retirees, who had never been politically active, decided to start a nonpartisan super PAC in their deep red community. Let them be an inspiration to us all. Then, Outside of Politics, I’m two and a half months into life as a baby bookseller, and I’m giving you the full report on what a week in the life at Meander Bookshop actually looks like. — Sarah
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Episode Resources
Pantsuit Politics Resources
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Yellowbanks PAC
Yellowbanks Political Action Committee — or send a check to PO Box 293, Owensboro, KY 42302
Newly formed Yellowbanks SuperPAC readies for first election (Messenger-Inquirer)
The Hopelessness Polling
Outside of Politics: Meander Bookshop
Meander Bookshop, inside Piper’s Tea & Coffee, Paducah, KY — follow along at meander.substack.com
The Kitchen I Came Home To by Sara Bradley — signed pre-order copies exclusively through Meander
Bookstore Romance Day at Meander this Saturday
Episode Transcript
Coming soon…
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As a bookseller, handselling a book to someone is 100% my favorite part of the job. It’s so fun to see someone else get excited about a book you recommended. It’s been so fun to watch you get started in this business. I hope to come to Paducah at some point and visit your store. Finding bookstores when I’m traveling is my favorite thing to do!!
Also, since you mentioned trying to start book clubs, do yourself a favor and find a couple people who might be willing to lead them sometimes for you, so you don’t get trapped doing them all because that can be a lot to add on top of your already full plate. Maybe a couple friends who enjoy different genres and the perk of leading one for you is they get the book for free?
Just a thought, please ignore if you’re tired of “free advice” lol. I could talk book selling and bookstores all day. I currently work at an amazing indie that is thankfully doing very well, but my dream is open my own one day when my kids are a bit bigger so I constantly think about things like that.