On July 23, 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stood in the House of Commons and responded to the insults and dehumanizing language used against her by Representative Ted Yoho. This ignited a spark in myself, my guest, and millions of other women who refuse to accept this type of language used against women.
AOC stood up for her values, demanded better, and provided solutions. She spoke truth to power, and that’s what my guest and I will be discussing today. How can you speak truth to power in your everyday life? Especially when it gets uncomfortable or hard, which it inevitably will.
My guest today is Beth Foraker, my friend for many years and a lightning rod for social activism. Her unique experience of raising a child with Down Syndrome empowered her to stand up for student inclusion in schools and families. The work she does takes courage, although she’ll humbly tell you she is simply doing what’s necessary.
Speaking truth to power doesn’t have to be giving a speech to the House of Commons. It can be as simple as advocating for your child with special needs, making a call to your local government once a month, or even dedicating yourself to raising children who will not accept dehumanizing language.
In today’s episode, Beth and I are diving deep into the background and consequences of AOC’s response to Ted Yoho, reflecting on how we speak truth to power in our own lives, and discussing the vulnerability that comes with standing up for your values. Beth is such an inspiring person, and the ripple effect of her personal and professional activism is quite profound. I’m thrilled to share this empowering interview with you and I hope it inspires you to look at your own capacity for speaking truth to power.
LISTEN HERE
WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER
- How Beth cultivated the courage to do her amazing social activism work.
- Why AOC’s speech is a masterclass in leadership and responding to adversity.
- Why every time a man chooses silence over speaking up, he puts another Lego in the mountain of misogyny.
- Why Beth believes it’s so important to have a diverse group representing us.
- The ways you can speak truth to power without being a politician.
- Why it requires vulnerability, integrity, and grace to speak truth to power.
RESOURCES FOR YOU
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Response to Rep. Ted Yoho
- Beth Foraker National Catholic Board on Full Inclusion | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
- Jane Elliot’s Brown Eyes & Blue Eyes Exercise
- Grab your spot in my live virtual workshop on Trusting Yourself!
- Sign up for my new course: How to Feel Grounded Confidence
- Sign up here to receive Friday Podcast updates, Sunday Love letters, and Wisdom Wednesdays.