Best Elise Williams Rikard Podcasts (2026)

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A Deep Dive Into Taylor Swift's Most Political Lyrics 21:15

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3M ago21:15

21:15

Is Taylor Swift political? Some say no — but her lyrics tell a different story. In this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into Taylor Swift’s most political songs — 16 tracks that span themes of feminism, power, religion, LGBTQ+ rights, and resistance. From gaslighting and double standards to purity culture, political despair, and queer visibility …

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RFK Jr., Tylenol, and the Politics of Women’s Pain 4:50

3M ago4:50

4:50

RFK Jr. is back with another dangerous claim — this time saying that Tylenol causes autism. Not acetaminophen, not evidence-based science — but Tylenol, the brand name. And here’s why that matters: Tylenol is the only safe, widely recommended pain reliever for pregnant women. Which means this misinformation isn’t just sloppy — it’s cruel. It’s anot…

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What is Gerrymandering, and What’s Happening in California & Texas? 9:42

4M ago9:42

9:42

What if I told you states are using maps like power plays—drawing lines not for fairness, but for political survival? That’s gerrymandering. In this episode of For Love & Justice, I break down what gerrymandering is, why it matters, and how California and Texas are battling it out over redistricting. From Texas Republicans aiming for five extra Hou…

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Charlie Kirk, Political Violence, Outrage Culture, & What it All Says About Us 9:49

4M ago9:49

9:49

In this episode of For Love & Justice, I’m unpacking not just the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, but the explosive reactions that followed. Why did this one act dominate the feeds while other tragedies barely registered? What does the rush to blame reveal about the culture we’ve built—where outrage is currency and projection replaces truth? …

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Gerrymandering vs. Voter Suppression: What’s the Difference? 14:06

4M ago14:06

14:06

Gerrymandering vs. Voter Suppression: what’s the difference? And why do they matter for our democracy? This week’s episode breaks down how maps are manipulated, how access to the ballot is restricted, and why both strategies tilt elections. Plus—what we can do to fight back.By Elise Williams Rikard

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Rescue Pets, Black Cat Myths, & the Realities of Animal Adoption 15:51

4M ago15:51

15:51

From rescue stories to black cat myths to why adoption matters — join me (and my furbabies!) for a cozy, heartfelt dive into animal advocacy. Today’s episode is a little different — and a lot furrier. I’m joined by my very special co-hosts: my rescue cat Lazarus, my gentle pup Ginger, and my chaos-loving ferret Mochi. Together, we’re diving into th…

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Pay Fights, Term Limits, and Presidential Grifting: What You Missed in July 12:45

5M ago12:45

12:45

In this episode, we’re recapping the stories you might’ve missed in July — the ones that slipped through the cracks of your algorithm but still matter. From Harry Styles selling out vibrators and Travis Kelce feeding the Swifties, to WNBA players demanding equal pay and Ms. Rachel shutting down billionaire worship, the “love” portion of this roundu…

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Faith, Politics, and Washington's New Law: Is It Anti-Catholic? 1:10:56

7M ago1:10:56

1:10:56

Washington State just passed a law requiring clergy to report suspected child abuse—even if it’s revealed in confession. The Catholic Church calls it a violation of religious freedom, and Trump labeled it “anti-Catholic.” Is it a necessary safeguard or an unconstitutional overreach? I’m joined by my friend and devout Catholic, Chris Eden, to break …

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Trump’s Big BS Bill, $400M Jets, & Other BS You Might’ve Missed 12:15

7M ago12:15

12:15

Today we’re talking billion-dollar jets, billion-page bills, and about a billion bad decisions — with a dash of June Gemini chaos and cucumber safety, of course. In this episode, I break down the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” — a 1,000-page disaster passed by the House that basically takes from the poor to give to the rich. Even Elon Musk called i…

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Viktoria Capek on Dear Reader & Taylor Swift's Lyrical Legacy 55:18

7M ago55:18

55:18

In this special episode of For Love & Justice, I sit down with author and Swiftie scholar Viktoria Capek to dive deep into her enchanting new book, Dear Reader: An Immersive Literary Journey Through Taylor Swift’s Lyrics. We’re diving into the magic of Taylor’s words, the inspiration behind Viktoria’s book, and what it was really like bringing Dear…

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The It Ends With Us Drama Part 2: Taylor Swift Subpoenaed?! 15:55

7M ago15:55

15:55

Welcome back to Part 2 of the It Ends With Us drama breakdown—because yes, more has gone down. I recorded Part 1 months ago when things were still fresh, but now the dust has barely settled and the chaos is still escalating. From feuds and lawsuits to Taylor Swift being dragged into the mix (!), it’s time to revisit the mess. In this episode, I: Br…

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Reputation Fantasy Draft: New Swiftie Obliterates OG Swiftie 9:50

7M ago9:50

9:50

In this episode, I’m joined by my bestie for a no-holds-barred Taylor Swift Reputation fantasy draft—and things get spicy. One of us is a longtime Swiftie, the other’s a newer convert, and neither of us is holding back when it comes to picking our ultimate Reputation tracklist. Expect passionate debates, lyrical deep dives, and a few shocking snubs…

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The Importance of Doing Hobbies With Friends 53:27

8M ago53:27

53:27

What if joy was the point? In this feel-good episode of For Love & Justice, I’m joined by my best friend and longtime creative partner, Meleah Bowles, to talk about something that deserves way more love: doing hobbies just for fun — and especially doing them with a friend. From painting badly on purpose to wandering bookstores for hours, we share o…

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Wish-fulfilling Taylor Swift’s Stages of Grief Playlists 20:32

8M ago20:32

20:32

This one's for my fellow Swifties! In this episode, we dive into the official Stages of Grief playlists Taylor curated on Apple Music—and ask a very important question: why were Debut and Reputation left out? From the rose-colored haze of Denial to the clarity of Acceptance, we unpack each playlist’s emotional terrain—plus, we take our Swiftie magn…

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Child Fight Clubs, Salmonella, Mental Health Awareness Month, + Other Ish You Might've Missed 1:17:16

8M ago1:17:16

1:17:16

May is Mental Health Awareness Month—and in this episode of For Love & Justice, we’re breaking down what that really means in 2025. From a staggering rise in depression screenings to shady moves by policymakers who say they care about mental health but cut funding anyway, we’re naming the contradictions and calling for clarity. We also dive into th…

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Make it Make Sense: Elon Musk's Villain Origin Story 43:15

10M ago43:15

43:15

Is Elon Musk a misunderstood genius or a billionaire on his way to full-blown villain status? In this episode, we break down his rise from apartheid-era South Africa to becoming the most controversial figure in tech. We dig into his "power" moves at Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), his love for chaos, and the ethical gray areas fueling his …

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Jumping Down the Conspiracy Theory Rabbit Hole (With Shannon Sanford) 35:20

11M ago35:20

35:20

Get ready for a whirlwind tour through the wild world of conspiracy theories! We explore shocking truths about conspiracy theories rooted in history, from wars fought for oil to political profiteering, with a spotlight on Overthrow by Stephen Kinzer, a must-read on U.S. interventions. We also unravel lingering mysteries like the JFK assassination, …

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Straight From the Horse's Mouth: Broligarchy Edition 25:00

12M ago25:00

25:00

While Trump was busy signing 42 executive orders on his first day (remember when tantrums were thrown over Biden signing 17 his first day???), the broligarchy was busy yapping. Today, I'm reading quotes straight from the horses' mouths—because it's increasingly important we keep our eyes and ears open. Scary stuff is going down.…

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Make it Make Sense: The It Ends With Us Drama, Explained 13:00

1y ago13:00

13:00

This episode unpacks the escalating drama surrounding It Ends With Us and all the legal he-said-she-said. We explore the public and industry fallout, what it reveals about Hollywood’s persistent issues with on-set misconduct and accountability, and why you shouldn't watch this awful movie. Tune in for the latest twists in this high-stakes legal sho…

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Real Housewives Midseason Recap: RHOBH & RHOSLC 26:11

1y ago26:11

26:11

The Real Housewives have taken over our televisions (there's a franchise airing almost every night of the week), and Beverly Hills and Salt Lake City are particularly juicy this season. We're recapping the midway point on both shows, breaking down the friendship dynamics, and analyzing the psychology behind the batshit behaviors.…

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Reflecting on 2024, the Danger of Elon, & Main Character Energy 23:45

1y ago23:45

23:45

As 2024 comes to a close, we're reflecting on all the crazy ish that happened this year—plus discussing the dangers of having the richest man in the world in the president's ear and looking ahead to 2025!By Elise Williams Rikard

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Welcome to For Love & Justice! (Start Here) 25:53

1y ago25:53

25:53

If you're new here, start with this episode! I'm diving into all the reasons I started For Love & Justice, and what you can expect to hear here. I'm also sharing why I'm so personally invested in the ongoing fight for reproductive freedom in hopes that it will help humanize and normalize those of us being forced to have these conversations. Nothing…

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How to Vote (and Are We?) 25:36

1+ y ago25:36

25:36

If you’re planning on voting in the 2024 presidential election (and you should!), you need to make sure you’re registered first. So, how do you register? In this episode, I’m breaking down the steps from registering, to updating your registration, to checking for your polling location. Arkansas has one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the count…

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Navigating the Arkansas Abortion Amendment Petition With Mariah Martz 1:07:55

1+ y ago1:07:55

1:07:55

Arkansans for Limited Government, with the help of volunteers and paid canvassers, pulled off the impossible and gathered more than 136,000 signatures to get abortion rights on the ballot in November—in one of the most notoriously anti-choice states in the country. I sat down with one of those amazing volunteers, Mariah Martz, to discuss what all w…

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Make it Make Sense: Why is the World So Obsessed With Taylor Swift? 52:10

2y ago52:10

52:10

In the debut episode of For Love & Justice, we're delving into the enchanting lore of Taylor Swift to answer the burning question on everyone's minds: Why are we Swifties—and now the world—so obsessed with Taylor and her ever-evolving love story? While I can't speak for all Swifties, I do have a few theories as to why she's the anti-hero we can't a…