>> O'Connell: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON:" I'M SUE O'CONNELL, IN FOR JIM BRAUDE.

WITH LESS THAN SIX MONTHS TO GO UNTIL THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS, I'M JOINED BY THE AUTHORS OF "DIRT ROAD REVIVAL," WHO LAY OUT WHY THEY BELIEVE WINNING OVER RURAL COMMUNITIES IS A KEY TO DEMOCRATS' SUCCESS.

THEN, MILTON MOMS MAKING THEIR ROCK STAR DREAMS COME TRUE.

I AM JOINED BY MEMBERS OF THE PANDEMIC-FORMED BAND "THE LAZY SUSANS," ON THE HEELS THEIR NATIONAL TV DEBUT!

>> O'Connell: WHEN DONALD TRUMP WON THE PRESIDENCY IN 2016, MANY DEMOCRATS WERE BAFFLED AS TO WHAT WENT WRONG, BUT A NEW BOOK PURPORTS TO HAVE THE KEY TO THE PROBLEM, AND THE SOLUTION.

"DIRT ROAD REVIVAL" LAYS OUT THE ROADMAP FOR HOW DEMOCRATS CAN REBUILD RURAL POLITICS, AND WHY THE AUTHORS BELIEVE THE PARTY'S FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT.

THE PAIR BEHIND IT JOINS ME NOW.

CHLOE MAXMIN WAS THE FIRST DEMOCRAT EVER ELECTED TO REPRESENT HER DISTRICT WHEN SHE JOINED THE STATE HOUSE IN 2018, ALSO MAKING HISTORY AS THE YOUNGEST FEMALE STATE LEGISLATOR IN MAINE'S HISTORY, GOING ON TO BEAT THE INCUMBENT SENATE MINORITY LEADER IN 2020.

AND, CANYON WOODWARD WAS HER CAMPAIGN MANAGER THROUGH IT ALL.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

FIRST I WANT TO SET THE TABLE A LITTLE BIT.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT FLAVOR DEMOCRAT ARE YOU, IF SOMEONE WERE TO ASK YOU WHAT KIND OF DEMOCRAT YOU ARE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

WITHIN I THINK WE'RE PROGRESSIVE YOUNG FOLKS WHO GREW UP IN RURAL CONSERVATIVE COMMUNITIES.

AND WE REALLY LOVE WHERE WE'RE FROM.

AND WE ALSO RELOLL-- REALLY LOVE THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND ALL THAT IT STANDS FOR.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS BUT WE CERTAINLY LEARNED A LOT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN OUR DISTRICTS AND THAT IS WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT.

>> O'Connell: AND CANYON, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, ARE YOU NOT PEOPLE WHO IS JUST SWOOPED IN TO MAINE OR JUST SWOOPED IN FROM THE BIG CITY TO SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE.

ARE YOU BOTH BORN AND BREAD IN RURAL AREAS, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

I GREW UP IN THE SUPERRURAL PART OF SOUTHERN APPALACHA AND WE BOTH SPENT OUR WHOLE LIVES BEING RAISED BY THESE COMMUNITIES.

AND FELT THE CALLBACK VERY STRONGLY.

>> O'Connell: SO I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER DEAL McKORMIC WHO WAS A MAINE STRAIGHT TREASURER, I SNS THINK ALSO A CITY COUNCILLOR, AN OPENLY LESBIAN PERSON WHO WENT CAMPAIGNING IN MAINE AND ACTUALLY RAN FOR CONGRESS AND ALMOST WON.

AND DURING HER CAMPAIGN I REMEMBER SPEAKING WITH HER AND HER SHARING WITH ME IS THE INTERACTION SHE HAD WHILE SHE WAS CAMPAIGNING ACROSS THE STATE.

BOTH WHEN SHE WAS A STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND AS WELL RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.

KHLOE, YOU CAN SHARE WITH ME WHAT SOME OF THE INTERACTIONS YOU HAVE HAD WHILE YOU HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNING THAT MIGHT NOT BE FITTING WITH WHAT SOME PEOPLE THINK RURAL VOTERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OR CARING ABOUT?

>> SURE THING, YES.

WE BOTH COME FROM MOVEMENTS THAT HAVE A LONG AND PROUD HISTORY AND ALSO ARE ARGUING RIGHT NOW WITH SO MANY PEOPLE DOING INCREDIBLE WORK IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.

YOU KNOW, WHAT WE FOUND IN OUR CAMPAIGNS, WE TALKED WITH SO MANY REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS WHO HAD NEVER BEEN CONTACTED BY A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE OR CANVASSER, ENTIRE VOTING HISTORY.

WE FOUND A LOT OF COMMON GROUND.

WE WOULD HAVE TRUMP SIGNS, NEXT THO CHLOE SIGNS AND JUST HAD INCREDIBLE CONVERSATIONS THAT CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE, AS A PROGRESSIVE PERSON, REALLY UNDERSTANDING FOLKS WHO THINK DIFFERENTLY THAN ME, WHICH IS REALLY OKAY.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A PART OF WHAT MAKE THIS COUNTRY SO GREAT.

AND IT WAS UNCOVERING THAT COMMON GROUND.

THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY HOPEFUL AND JUST KIND OF A WAKE-UP CALL OF HOW MUCH WORK WE HAVE TO DO ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> O'Connell: WHAT IS SOME OF THAT COMMON GROUND F SOMEONE HAS A TRUMP SIGN AM AND A SIGN UP FOR YOU, WHERE DO YOU OVERLAP ON THINGS THAT YOU CARE ABOUT AND THE CONSTITUENT CARES ABOUT?

>> YOU KNOW, I FOUND SO MUCH COMMON GROUND ON MANY, MANY ISSUES, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T REMEMBER TALKING TO A SINGLE REPUBLICAN WHO WANTED HEALTH CARE TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE.

AND ON A HIGHER LEVEL I FOUND SO MUCH EMPATHY AND JUST SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF FRUSTRATION WITH OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM AND HOW MUCH I AS A YOUNG PERSON AND THE FOLKS IN RURAL CONSERVATIVE PLACES WHICH REALLY FEEL LIKE-- HAVE LET US DOWN ON EVERY LEVEL.

AND SO THAT IS WHY I RAN FOR OFFICE AND I FOUND THAT SHARED SOLIDARITY WITH THE FOLKS THAT I WAS TALKING TO AS WELL.

>> WITHIN CON FROM THE ORGANIZING AND CAMPAIGN STANDPOINT, IN THE BOOK YOU WRITE A LOT ABOUT.

WE'RE GOING TO GET FLOO IT IN A SECOND, ABOUT WHAT THE DEMOCRATS SHOULD BE DOING IN ORDER TO STAY ENGAGED WITH THESE RURAL VOTERS AND HOPEFULLY GET THEM TO VOTE FOR THEM.

BUT WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGE-- ONE OF THE CHALLENGES I THINK IS THE NUMBERS GAME, RIGHT.

I THINK DEMOCRATS CAMPAIGN MANAGERS AND CANDIDATES WILL SAY LOOK, I CAN SPEND MY TIME IN A BIG CITY IN A BIGGER CITY, IN A TOWN, WITH A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT I THINK CAN I GET TO VOTE FOR ME.

OR I CAN GO WORK AND TRY AND GET RURAL VOTERS WHO I HAVE TO GO AND SPEND A LOT OF TIME TO TRY AND TALK THEM INTO ME.

WHY NOT GO, YOU KNOW, AS THEY SAY Y DO YOU ROB BAKES BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE MONEY IS.

WHY NOT STAY WITH THE CITY AND YOU ARE MAN-- URBAN FOLKS TO GET INTO OFFICE, WHAT IS THE COST OF DOING THAT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY?

>> YEAH, WELL, I MEAN IT IS CERTAINLY A WHOLE LOT EASIER TO PAY FOR TV ADS IN A BIG METROPOLITAN MARKET THAN IT IS TO INVEST THAT MONEY IN GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING.

BUT THE COST IS REALLY STEEP.

IF YOUR ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATEWIDE VOTE THAN SQUEEZING AS MANY VOTES AS POSSIBLE OUT OF THE MOST POPULOUS AREAS MIGHT MAKE SENSE BUT THE COST OF LOSING STATE LEGISLATURES AND SENDING OVERWHELMINGLY REPUBLICAN DELEGATIONS TO CONGRESS LIKE WE HAVE IN MY HOME STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WHERE WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, BUT REPUBLICAN SUPERMAJORITIES AND OVERWHELMINGLY REPUBLICAN CONGRESS DELEGATION.

>> SO KHLOE, WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY?

HOW DO THEY CHANGE FOCUS?

I MEAN IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE HILLRY CLINTON LOSS, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOTTEN ANY BETTER THAT IGNORING, YOU IGNORE THE RURAL VOTER AT YOUR OWN PERIL.

HAVE THEY GOTTEN BETTER AT PAYING ATTENTION TO RURAL VOTERS AND IF NOT WHAT SHOULD THEY BE DOING?

>> WELL, THERE IS CERTAINLY A LOT OF FOLKS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, RURRING A PROGRESSIVE, YOUNG FOLKS RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND WINNING AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND THAT'S SO EXCITING AND REALLY SHOULD BE HONORED.

WE STAND BESIDE ALL THE INCREDIBLE RURAL ORGANIZERS IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND WE NEED A LOT MORE.

AND IT SOUNDS SO SIMPLE.

BUT THE HEART OF IT IS REALLY JUST HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE.

I THINK THINGS ARE SO DIVISIVE THESE DAYS AND SO COMPLICATED, I DON'T KNOW OF A WAY TO OVERCOME THAT AND BUILD A RELATIONSHIP THAT IS WORTHY OF A VOTE, WHICH SAY REALLY SACRED THING UNLESS WE GO DOOR TO DOOR AND HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE.

>> YOU WRITE A BIT ABOUT HOWE SUSPECT THE RURAL VOTER.

IS NOT JUST OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BUT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS WELL.

WHAT DO THE PARTIES, WHAT DO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE CANDIDATES NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO BE ENGAGED WITH THE RURAL VOTER AND THE RURAL CITIZEN?

>> I THINK-- .

>> IT IS REALLY ABOUT BACK TO GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING.

WE HAVE TO GO AND HAVE FAITH BASED CONVERSATIONS.

WE CANVAS SO MUCH IN THE CITIES AND SUBURBS, AND PEOPLE ARE HONESTLY TIRED OF IT.

IF YOU DRIVE DOWN THAT DIRT ROAD AND FIND THESE FOLKS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, SO MANY OF THEM SAY I HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED BY A DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN OR ANY POLITICIAN EVER BEFORE IN MY LIFE.

AND THAT CONVERSATION MEANS SO MUCH MORE, SO WE REALLY HAVE TO INVEST IN BUILDING OUT THAT GRASSROOTS INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> QULOAY, CAN YOU TOUCH ON A LITTLE BIT, BUT IEMED'S WONDERING IF YOU CAN EXPAND ON THE ISSUE.

AND I THINK THAT THE OPERATIVES AND "POLITICO" AND THOSE OF US WHO COVER IT SOMETIMES BREAK DOWN THE FEDERAL LAWMAKERS AND THEN LOCAL AND WE SEPARATE THEM BUT YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE SEEING CERTAINLY WITH THE POTENTIAL OF THE REVERSAL OF ROE V. WADE AND THE VOTE TODAY WITH SENATORS NOT CODIFYING ROE V. WADE INTO A FEDERAL LAW, WE HAVE A BIG IMBALANCE IN THE COUNTRY WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE REPRESENTED BY SOME SENATORS AND THEN OTHERS WHO ARE NOT.

AND THAT THE STATE LAWMAKERS WHO ARE REGULARLY CONSERVATIVE AND REPUBLICAN ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO BE CALLING THE DANCE CARD AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION THERE BETWEEN CONNECTING WITH RURAL VOTERS THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON NATIONAL AND FEDERAL LAWMAKING?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY ALL CONNECTED AND I THINK IT'S A CONNECTION OF BECOMING MORE AND MORE PROMINENT THESE DAYS.

BUT YOU KNOW, THERE IS SO MUCH POWER IN STATE LEGISLATOR-- LEGISLATURES BUT OVER, DURING THE OBAMA PRESIDENT SEE THE DEMOCRATS LOST ALMOST A THOUSAND LEGISLATIVE SEATS NATIONWIDE.

AND IN THAT SAME TIME SPAN RURAL VOTERS WENT FROM A NONPARTISAN VOTING PREFERENCE TO A 16 POINT REPUBLICAN ADVANTAGE.

SO THERE HAS BEEN A WILD SWING AND THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT IS MORE INFLUENCE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND AT THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL.

AND SO DEMOCRATS HAVE REALLY KIND OF LOST GROUND IN SOME OF THE KEY RACES THAT WE HAVE LISS TORICALLY RELIED ON.

AND LIKE CANYON SAYS, THE EXAMPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA, IF YOU HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WITH A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE, THE ISSUES WE CARE ABOUT LIKE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHT, CLIMATE JUSTICE AND RACIAL JUSTICE, WE WERE NOT GOING TO ADVANCE THESE EXTREMELY VITAL, IMPORTANT POLICY CAUSES UNLESS WE HAVE GOOD DEMOCRATS IN OFFICE.

>> CANYON, THE NARRATIVES ABOUT RURAL VOTERS WHICH YOU READ ABOUT IN THE BOOK ALSO IS, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY VOTE AGAINST THEIR OWN BEST INTERESTS, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT SOME OF THE POOREST COUNTIES AND POOREST STATES VOTING FOR REPUBLICANS WHO ARE TURNING AROUND AND NOT HELPING THEM NOT BE POOR ANY MORE.

OR YOU QUOTE THE HILLRY CLINTON QUOTE ABOUT A BASKET FULL OF DEPLORABLES AND YOU NOTE THE BARACK OBAMA CLINGING TO THEIR GUNS AND THIS REALLY DISMISSIVE VIEW THAT NOT JUST DEMOCRATS BUT REPUBLICANS TOO, TALKING ABOUT DEMOCRATS DEMOCRATS HAVE ABOUT THE RURAL VOTERS, HOW CAN SOMETHING THAT SEEMS SO STEEP IN THE NARRATIVE OF OUR NATION, HOW YOU CAN GET DEMOCRATS TO CHANGE THAT THOUGHT PROCESS?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S HARD.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HEAR MORE STORIES OUT OF RURAL COMMUNITIES.

AND SOME RURAL CAMPAIGNS.

IT IS FRUSTRATES TO SEE FOLKS VOTES FOR DONALD TRUMP AND I THINK IT'S A NATURAL HUMAN REACTION FOR FOLKS TO KIND OF MAKE PEOPLE AND THE OTHERS WHO DISAGREE WITH THEM.

AND IT'S JUST ABOUT FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THOSE STEREOTYPES AND NARRATIVES AND CHANGING THE MESSAGING TO LEAD WITH VALUES AND THE SIGNIFICANT COMMON GROUND THAT WE DO HAVE WHEN WE GET OUT OF THE TWITTER SPHERE, GET OUT OF OUR FACEBOOK FEEDS OR FOX NEWSES AND HAVE A FACE TO FACE CONVERSATION.

>> O'Connell: IN THE BOOK IT IS A HOW TO BOOK AS WELL, NOT JUST A WHAT HAPPENED BUT A HOW TO FOR FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR OFFICE BUT ALSO FOR DEMOCRATS TO READ.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW?

WE SEEM TO BE AT LEAST FROM MY VIEW POINT TO BE IN A REALLY AWFUL POSITION WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY AND GETTING PEOPLE INVOLVED IN VOTING.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR OFFICE RIGHT NOW WHOSE MOTIVATED BY THE NEED TO PROTECT THE DEMOCRACY?

>> THERE IS NO QUESTION THE STATES HAVE NEVER-- STAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN HIGHER.

THERE ARE SO MANY LESSONS THAT WE HAVE EXTRACTED FROM OUR WORK AND WHAT WORKS IN MAINE MAY NOT WORK IN OTHER PLACES BUT I THINK ONE OF THE COMMON THEMES WE HAVE HAD IN OUR CAMPAIGNS IN OUR WORK IN MAINE AND OTHER STATES IS THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF TALKING TO PEOPLE, AND NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY AGREE WITH US BUT THE FOLKS WHO MIGHT THINK ABOUT ITS WORLD A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THAN WE DO.

WE CAN'T KEEP JUST RELYING ON HAVING FOLKS WITH THE SAME LETTER NEXT TO THEIR NAME VOTE FOR US.

WE NEED A BROADER MOVEMENT THAT IS MORE DURABLE, MORE SUSTAINABLE, MORE REFLECTIVE AND MORE INCLUSIVE, WE'RE ONLY GOING TO DO THAT IF WE HAVE FACE TO FACE CONVERSATIONS, IT SAY LONG PROCESS T IS A PAINSTAKING PROCESS AND A HOPEFUL PROCESS, BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S VERY NECESSARY.

>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE GET ELECTED THAT YOU KNOW I WAS SHOCKED ABOUT HOW SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS ESPECIALLY IN THE FEDERAL LEVEL SEEM COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED BY HOW INFLATION IS IMPACTING ALL FAMILIES ON EVERY LONG ON THE ECONOMIC LADDER, YOU ARE FEELING THE INFLATION.

AND AS AN ISSUE FOR THE MID TERM ELECTION FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO ACTUALLY WIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NOT A LOT THE PRESIDENT CAN DO ABOUT IT, I WOULD BE OUT TALKING ABOUT IT EVERY DAY, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY GET ELECTED THAT THEY FORGET THAT THEY ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, ARE TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO PAY THEIR BILLS EVERY DAY?

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER FOR THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU LOOK AT THE MAKEUP OF CONGRESS.

YOU LOOK AT THE MAKEUP OF OUR STATES LEGISLATURES, AND THERE ARE OVERWHELMINGLY WEALTHY OR RETIRED, YOU KNOW, OLD WHITE MEN AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT.

WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE CHLOE, MORE YOUNG WOMEN, MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN OFFICE, MORE WORKING CLASS FOLKS WHO AREN'T JUST GETTING THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY AND HAVE FUNDED THEIR OWN CAMPAIGN.

>> YEAH, THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER CHAPTER IN YOUR BOOK WHICH WE CAN GET TO.

I WOULD IMAGINE YOUR ADVICE TO FOLKS WOULD BE THAT STEP TOWARD PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM YOU AND DISAGREE WITH YOU RATHER THAN STEP AWAY FROM THEM?

>> YEAH, EMBRACE THE DIFFERENCE.

THERE IS SO MUCH POWER IN AGREEING TO DISAGREE AND EVEN JUST UNDERSTANDING WHERE SOMEONE ELSE IS COMING FROM.

EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR YOU.

>> O'Connell: ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT.

>> O'Connell: CHLOE MAXMIN, CANYON WOODWARD, THANKS.

IS I ENJOYED THE IMK AND RECOMMEND EVERYTHING TO READ IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THE BOOK AGAIN IS DIRT ROAD REVIVAL, HOW TO REBUILD RURAL POLITIC ITS AND WHY OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT LOOK A LOT OF PEOPLE PICKED UP A NEW HOBBY OR TWO DURING COVID SHUTDOWNS, BUT FIVE LOCAL MOMS TOOK THINGS TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL, STARTING A ROCK BAND THAT TOOK THEM FROM A MILTON BASEMENT TO NATIONAL TELEVISION.

THEY'RE CALLED THE LAZY SUSANS, AND THIS PAST MONDAY, THEY PERFORMED ONE OF THEIR ORIGINAL SONGS, "SUGAR DROP," ON "THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW."

<MUSIC> >> O'Connell: I'M JOINED BY FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE LAZY SUSANS: I'M GOING TO LET YOU INTROA DWEUS YOURSELVES AND TELL ME YOU WHAT PLAY, JOANNA STARTING WITH YOU W. >> I PLAY GI STAR.

>> I'M LAILA MITCHELL AND I DID PERCUSSION AND KEYS.

I'M DO THE-BASE.

>> I'M HEATHER SHAW AND I PLAY-BASE.

>> AND YOU ALSO MAY RECOGNIZE JOANNA AS A CONTRIBUTOR TO GBH LIKE EXPERIENCE MAGAZINE.

HOW EXCITES IS THIS, MY GOD, MI SO EXCITED FOR YOU, WHAT HAPPENED.

I MEAN I HAVE A GUITAR THAT I BORROWED WHEN COVID HAPPENED AND IT IS STILL SITTING EXACTLY WHERE I HAVE A PIECE OF CLOTHING ON IT, IT MAY HAVE TURNED INTO A HAMPER TWO TWO, HOW DID YOU TAKE THIS OF LOVE OF MUSIC AND ACTUALLY TURN IT INTO SOMETHING DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> WE SET A DEADLINE.

I THINK THAT WAS THE KEY.

WE GOT TOGETHER, WE HAD ALWAYS KIND OF TALKED ABOUT PLAYING MUSIC IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE LIKED EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY, OR VERY MUCH EXPERIENCE AMONG US.

BUT FOR YEARS OUR HUSBAND WOULD PLAY MUSIC, OUR KIDS WERE IN BAND.

OUR KIDS WERE IN PLAYS.

WE THOUGHT IT LOOKED FUN.

WE THOUGHT WELL, WHO HAS THE TIME TO DO THAT AND THEN ITS PANDEMIC HIT.

>> I MEAN I THINK THE PANDEMIC GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT HONESTLY HAVE TO RUN THE KIDS AROUND AND ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY GO PLACES, SO WE WERE IN OUR HOUSE AND WE WERE KIND OF QUARANTINING TOGETHER.

AND I THINK PART OF IT WAS LIKE WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN JUST DO THINGS THAT WE'VE ALWAYS DREAMED ABOUT DOING.

SO THAT WAS SORT OF THE START OF IT.

>> AND I START TO START WITH YOU, AND ASK YOU, TELL ME WHAT YOUR PRIOR EXPERIENCE, I WANT EACH OF TO YOU GO.

MJ AND THEN TO HEATHER AND BACK AROUND AGAIN.

TELL ME LIKE A LAZY SUSAN, GET IT.

>> TELL ME WHAT YOUR PRIOR MUSICAL EXPERIENCE WAS BEFORE DOING THIS.

>> SO I GREW UP PLAYING PIANO A LITTLE BIT, SO I HAD SOME CLASSICAL MUSIC TRAINING.

AND I IN COLLEGE, MANY, MANY MOONS AGO I DABBLED IN SOME BAND AS WELL.

>> HET SNER.

>> ZERO, I HAD LIKE NO MUSICAL EXPERIENCE AT ALL.

NEVER PICKED UP AN INSTRUMENT IN MY LIFE.

>> JOANNA?

>> SO I HAD TAKEN GUITAR LESSONS A TEENY BIT IN MY 20S.

AND MY HUSBAND HAD TAUGHT ME A FEW GUITAR CHORD, BESIDES HIM I NEVER PLAYED IN FRONT OF ANYONE.

>> LAILA.

>> I'M A PRETTY STRONG KARAOKE SINGER.

I LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO GET TOGETHER AND PRETEND LIKE WE'RE THE BEST SINGERS DOING KARAOKE.

AND MARTHA, OUR FIFTH LAZY SUSAN REALLY HAD 0 MUSICAL MUSICAL EXPERIENCE AND WE GAVE LETTER SOME STICKS AND SHE JUST WENT AT IT AND GOT SOME GREAT LESSONS.

>> IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S PORNTS, DRUMMING IS LIKE NOT AT ALL IMPORTANT FOR A ROCK BAND.

>> NOT AT ALL.

YOU JITION HIT THE DRUMS.

>> WELL, WE WILL TAKE A LOOK, YOU PLAYED AT THE JP PORCH FEST THING SO WE WILL LOOK AT, THIS NOW THAT WE SET THE STAGE FOR FOLKS AND GAVE THEM A LITTLE TASTE FROM THE KELLEY CLARKSON SHOW, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

SEE THE PEOPLE WALKING DOWN THE STREET FALL IN LINE, JUST WATCHING ALL THEIR FEET THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY WANT TO GO BUT THEY'RE WALKING IN TIME THEY GOT THE BEAT THEY GOT THE BEAT THEY GOT THE BEAT YEAH, THEY GOT THE BEAT >> O'Connell: THAT OF COURSE AS JC PORCH FEST WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE NACT THAT WE'RE LISTENING TO A GO-GO'S TUNE S THAT THEY OFTEN HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY OF THEM DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY THEIR INSTRUMENTS UNTIL THEY WENT ON ITS ROAD.

AND LISTENING TO YOUR SONGS REALLY STRUCK ME OF THAT SORT OF PUNK ERA AND HOW MANY BANDS HAVE BECOME SO SUCCESSFUL AND NOT LETTING THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO PLAY BE A BARRIER.

WHAT GAVE YOU THE COURAGE TO GO AHEAD AND GO FORTH WITH THAT IN THAT MODE?

NESS YEAH T WAS MILTON PORCH FEST.

THERE ARE TONS OF PORCH FESTS AROUND AND IT IS AN AMAZING THING, IT KIND OF HAS THE VIBE OF AN OPEN MIC STAIRKS REALLY FRIENDLY, AND LOCAL CROWD.

IT'S NEIGHBORS WHO WANT TO SEE YOU DO WELL AND SUPPORT YOU O WE SET THAT DATE ON THE CALENDER BECAUSE WE FIGURED IF WE DIDN'T SET A DATE WE WOULD NEVER DO IT.

IF WE DIDN'T HAVE SOMETHING TO MOTD VAIT US LIKE FEAR OR OF HUMILIATING OURSELVES IN FRONT OF OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WE WOULD NEVER GET IT DONE.

>> O'Connell: AND ACTING AS AN EDITOR AND CHIEF IN CORRECTING ME AND PUTTING A DEADLINE IN PLACE GETS IT GOING.

I THINK I DID HETSER YOU WERE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING.

>> I WAS SAYING WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS THAT IT IS NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT THE HEIGHT OF THE TALENT T IS MORE ABOUT THE EXCITEMENT AND THE PASSION THAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR MUSIC.

AND KIND OF GETTING THE CROWD.

SO WE'RE GOING TO RIDE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT AND WE'RE BUILDING OUR TALENT AS WE ARE GOING, OF COURSE.

BUT I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT ITS EXCITEMENT THAT WE QUEENED OF BRING TO THE STAGE AND EVEN THAT A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS INNOCENCE TOO, SORT OF SETS US A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THOOS HAVE HAD A LOT OF PRACTICE OVER THE LAST.

>> YOU DEFINITELY ARE UNDERSELLING YOURSELVES BECAUSE IF YOU HAD-- SERIOUSLY, I MEAN I THOUGHT THAT YOU HAD ALL PLAYED BEFORE, NOTHING STRIKES ME AS THESE ARE JUST FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND.

THERE GOOFING AROUND, THIS IS REALLY VERY GOOD MUSIC PLAYED VERY SERIOUSLY WITH A LOT OF FUN AND ENTHUSIASM.

WHERE DID I-- I KNOW THAT WE WERE IN LOCKDOWN BUT WHERE DID YOU FIND THE ENERGY TO DO THIS TO COMMIT YOURSELF TO THIS, THAT IS ME, WHEN I THINK WHEN WE GET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS, I WILL JUST THINK OF THIS WEIGHT HI ON MY SHOULDERS AND THE DREAD I FELT THE WHOLE TIME AND SEEKING SOMETHING THAT BROUGHT ME JOY, WHICH YOU SUCCESSFULLY DID.

HOW DID YOU FIND THE ENERGY TO DO THAT?

>> .

>> I CAN JUMP IN, I THINK FOR ME I WAS ON MY COMPUTER A LOT BECAUSE I'M A PROFESSOR, SO I WAS TEACHING ONLINE.

AND YOU KNOW, MY HUSBAND HAD GIVEN ME THE-BASE FOR CHRISTMAS OF 2019.

AND IT WAS JUST COLLECTING DUST.

I HBTS REALLY TOUCHED IT IT BECAUSE I HADN'T PLAYED ANYTHING BEFORE.

AND SO FOR ME IT GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE CREATIVE IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY THAN I HAD BEFORE.

SO FOR ME IT WAS AN OUTLET I LOOKED FORWARD TO IT.

IT GAVE ME, I WAS USING MY BRAIN IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN I WAS AS A PROFESSOR.

>> SO HERE IS THE GENDER STUDIES QUESTION, RIGHT.

A BUNCH OF, I'M SURE A LOT OF DADS GOT TOGETHER AND MADE BANDS.

AND I'M SURE A LOT OF DADS ON A REGULAR BASIS GO AHEAD AND GO TO A GARAGE SOMEWHERE OR GO HANG OUT AND MAKE MUSIC.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL IN A WORLD WHERE IT'S NEWS THAT MOMS GOT TOGETHER AND DID IT.

AND WE'RE STILL IN A WORLD WHERE A FEMALE ROCK BAND IS ANIES WORTHY LIKE THE GO-GO'S STILL FIGHTING TO GET IN THE ROCK 'N' ROLL HALL OF FAME, DEBBIE HARRY STILL OUT FRONT.

WHAT IS THE GENDER TWIST ON THIS.

WHEN CAN WE GET TO A POINT WHERE I'M THRILLED THAT YOU ARE MAKING NEWS AND ON THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW.

BUT THIS SHOULD BE JUST YOU BEING ARTISTS.

DOES IT NEED TO BE WITH YOU BEING MOMS AND WOMEN DOING THIS?

>> YEAH, I MEAN I THINK IT IS A LOT ABOUT US KIND OF GRABBING IT BACK.

I SORT OF SAID THAT TERM LIKE TAKING IT BACK, TAKING OUT, TAKING BACK THE THING THAT WE HAVE BEEN WANTING TO DO.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SINGING T DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A BAND.

IT QUB SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST HAVE PASSION FOR BEFORE YOU BECAME THIS OTHER IDENTITY, A PARENT OR AN ADULT OR A WORKING PERSON OR A WORKING MOM.

SO IT WAS REALLY JUST ABOUT DEFINITELY COLLABORATING AND SUPPORTING, GETTING THAT SUPPORT FROM OUR FRIENDS AND THEN JUST SOFORT TAKING IT BACK AND SAYING I WANT TO DO THIS THING.

AND WHETHER IN IS SORT OF A GENDER STATEMENT OR NOT, I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AS MOMS AND AS FEMALES TO SORT OF TAKE CONTROL AND GO FOR IT.

>> I THINK DOING IT-- HAVING PEOPLE WHO KEPT YOU HONEST, MOTIVATED YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP FOR YOURSELF AND BE ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE, YOU HAVE TO PLAY IT TOGETHER, LEARN THE PART, YOU HAVE TO BE PART OF THE BAND.

SO I THINK THAT THAT HELPED A LOT.

I THINK THE PANDEMIC CREATED THAT SPACE FOR IT BUT I THINK THE LESSON IS YOU HAVE TO CREATE YOUR OWN SPACE.

>> THE OTHER INSPIRATIONAL PART OF IT.

I USED TO WORK IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS AND WAS ALWAYS AMAZED WHEN PEOPLE PUT BARRIERS UP IN ORDER TO BE CREATIVE.

AND I WAS READING IN THE GLOBE ARTICLE ABOUT IT.

ONE OF YOU WERE SAYING SOMETHING LIKE WE FEEL LIKE WE MIGHT HAVE TAKEN SOMEONE'S SPACE.

WE'RE GETTING ATTENTION.

OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS AND I READ THE COMMENTS WHICH I WEIGHED IN TOED AND ONE COMMENTER SAID LISTEN, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO CATCH FIEMPLE YOU NEVER KNOW, SOMEBODY COULD BE WORKING FOR YEARS AND NEVER GET IT AND SOMEONE COME AS LONG AND SUDDENLY IT'S, YOU SNOW, YOU HAVE CAUGHT IT AND YOU ARE SHARE TTION WITH THE WORLD, WHICH IS BRINGING JOY, WHICH YOU GUYS ARE DOING.

WHAT IS NEXT, I MEAN ROCK 'N' ROLL HALL OF FAME ON YOUR WAY?

WORLD TOUR?

>> WHAT IS THE DEALIO.

>> WHAT'S NEXT IS PICKING UP FOR SOCCER AND-- AND DINNER HAS TO GET ON THE TABLE.

>> WE PLAYING THE SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MIDWAY CAFE IN JAMAICA PLAIN.

>> WE WILL BE IN JP.

>> SATURDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 AT THE MIDWAY FOLLOWED BY TWO OTHER GREAT BANDS.

>> AND I THINK WE'LL BE IN HULL IN A FEW WEEKS AND SO LIKE IT'S PICKED UP ITER IS A LOT OF FUN.

I THINK WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO GO OUT TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND SHARING OUR STORY AND MEETING OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL.

>> AND TELL ME ABOUT THE SET I KNOW YOU HAVE ORIGINAL MUSIC THAT YOU ARE DOING BUT WHAT ELSE CAN FOLKS LOOK FOR.

WE WILL PLAY MORE MUS NIK A BIT SO FOLKS CAN GET A TASTE.

WHAT ARE YOU PLAYING WHAT IS ON THE SET LIST?

>> WE HAVE FIECH ORIGINALS AND A LITTLE BIT OF PAT BEN A TAR.

A LITTLE BIT OF LIZZO.

>> DONNA SUMMER.

>> BRING IT BACK.

>> I LOVE IT.

I'M SO THRILLED ON THAT.

CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING SOMETHING GOOD OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

I'M SO THRILLED THAT MY GI STAR-- GUITAR IS WORKING SO WELL AS A CLOSET PIECE RIGHT NOW BUT I MIGHT GET INSPIRED.

SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

WE DIRECT FOLKS TO LOOK FOR YOU ON SATURDAY NIGHT, THANKS FOR JOINING ME.

I'M TOLD THE GO-GOs WERE INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME LAST FALL.

FINALLY.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

23 YEARS AGO, A WOMAN GAVE $100 TO TWO YOUNG REFUGEES SHE'D JUST MET ON A PLANE.

NOW, THEY'VE BEEN REUNITED ON TWITTER, AND THEY JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT HOW THAT SINGLE ACT OF KINDNESS CHANGED BOTH THEIR LIVES.

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU NOW WITH A LITTLE MORE OF THE LAZY SUSANS.

♪ SNET WE GOT THE BEAT, WE GOT IT.

♪ WE GOT THE BEAT.

♪ WE GOT THE BEAT.

♪ WE GOT THE BEAT.

♪ ♪ ♪ WE GOT THE BEAT.

♪ WE GOT THE BEAT.

♪ SNOALT WE DWOT THE BEAT.

♪ WE GOT THE BEAT S