Recognizing the Valuable Role of Nonconservative Rural Americans

October 8, 2024
Hosted by Christine Erickson

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Guest Information

Episode Description

In several ways, akin to the growing collective demographic of people who don't have children, the overlooked value of voter relevance & influence is too often dismissed by dominant political narratives. Tune in for this timely conversation with Matthew Ferrence, author of "I Hate It Here, Please Vote for Me: Essays on Rural Political Decay" (West Virginia University Press, 2024). In 2020, Matthew Ferrence ran for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, in a deeply-red district, and lost quite badly. In his newest book, he reflects on this experience to explore how American political narratives refuse to recognize the existence and value of nonconservative rural Americans, and how losing offers insight into the political morass of our nation. In "I Hate It Here, Please Vote for Me" he offers a counter-narrative to stereotypes of monolithic rural American voters and emphasizes that the ways stories are told about rural America are a source for the bitter divide between Red America and Blue America. Tune in live or on-demand to learn more about the underpinnings of the US political landscape and the need to recognize overlooked nonconservative voters in rural America.

New Legacy Radio

Tuesday at 10 AM Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Variety Channel

New Legacy Radio (NLR) is a social justice platform that amplifies the experiences, perspectives, and contributions of people without children. The show also navigates the multigenerational and intergenerational impact of social and systemic discrimination based on personal reproductive and relationship experiences. In conversation with diverse guests, who have lived experience, and allies, we discuss how these constructs relate to basic human rights, the natural world, global priorities, transnational relationships, and beyond. NLR is brought to you by New Legacy Institute (NLI), the first global policy institute to advocate for the rights of people who do not have children and policy without pronatalism. New Legacy Radio airs live on the VoiceAmerica Variety Channel every Tuesday at 10 AM Pacific Time. Listen live and on-demand: https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/4062

Christine Erickson

Christine J. Erickson (she/her) is the founder of New Legacy Institute (NLI), the only institute focused on the global imposition and real-world impact of pronatalist constructs and policy, and the demographic of people who do not have children. The Institute advocates for equal individual protections across reproductive and relationship experiences, as an urgent, foundational change to social policy. Christine is an experienced leadership advisor, social entrepreneur and policy advocate with vast and diverse global experience. She has an MBA in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Episode Directory

December 2024

November 2024

October 2024

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  • 10/15/2024: How Marital Status Bias Can Influence the Healthcare You Receive Listen Now
  • 10/8/2024: Recognizing the Valuable Role of Nonconservative Rural Americans Listen Now
  • 10/1/2024: The Scandalous Prehistory of Today's Abortion Debate Listen Now


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