#Blessed. What about this public display of gratitude makes us cringe? In this episode about gratitude, Ashley and Katey share their thoughts on the perfunctory “thank you” we were taught as kids, what blessings are all about, and the performative nature of #blessed.
It goes without saying, but in this season of giving thanks, we are incredibly thankful for our patrons, listeners, and supporters. Y’all are the best! (Want to help us keep making new episodes? Head on over to patreon.com/kindreds to support us today.)
What We’re Reading and Listening to
Calling all skeptics and believers alike: Katey devoured the 1988 book Many Lives, Many Masters by Dr. Brian Weiss, a Yale-trained psychiatrist whose encounter with a patient named Catherine changed everything he believed about life, death, and the space between. A story of love and connection, this one will stay with you.
Keeping her feet on the ground, Ashley has been 
watching The Next Question, a web series created and hosted by Austin Channing Brown, Jenny Booth Potter, and Chi Chi Okwu. In particular she recommends the episode called “Be Brave Together” featuring vulnerability researcher Brené Brown in which they talk about how racism shapes the conversation about bravery and vulnerability.
Kindred of the Moment: The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
In 1923 Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman, leaders in the women’s suffrage movement, wrote the Equal Rights 
Amendment that stated:
Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Although the ERA has *still* not been ratified, advocates are hopeful that with the recent election in Virginia, we will soon have the necessary 38 states needed to amend the constitution. It’s about dang time!
On our last episode of 2019, we’ll be hosting our second annual Listener Request episode. Got a burning question for us, an idea for a future topic, or general awesomeness you want us to share? Hit us up!