Second Helping - The DNC Bubble of Joy

Grace: 00:00:00

Hi, it's Grace Cowan. And this is Katelyn Brewer. And this is a Second Helping of Frogmore Stew.

TJ: 00:00:08

This special episode of Frogmore Stew Second Helping, Grace and Katelyn were able to connect with two South Carolina delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Both had strong reactions to what they experienced. Our first guest today is Kathryn Harvey, the chair of the Spartanburg County Democratic Party.

TJ: 00:00:37

She's also running for the U. S. House seat in District 4 against incumbent Republican Representative William Timmons.

Grace: 00:00:45

So we heard you just came off of your stump speech. a standing ovation and you brought the house down and, okay, first tell us about that. Tell us about your speech.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:00:57

I just had the opportunity to talk to our South Carolina delegation and the guests in the room about what we're building in the upstate. It is. Transformative. And I don't say that lightly. I think it was just really exciting to get in front of folks and be able to show them that this movement is happening and that we're ready to meet what's happening both nationally and on a local level. And it's such a moment. Y'all know this better than most that we've been working for two and a half years to get here.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:01:32

The energy is real and that is not always the case in our area of the state. And so to be able to bottle up what's happening here in this little bubble and take that back and really operationalize it on the ground, I think it's the most exciting, but more importantly, that room woke up because I read them the tweet that came from my opponent yesterday.

Grace: 00:01:58

Tell us what it said.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:01:59

The other side tweeted, Kathryn equals Kamala.

Grace: 00:02:03

Great.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:02:04

Yeah. Yeah. And that Timmons and Trump are better than Kathryn and Kamala. And I was like, some basic math is going to beg to differ, but I appreciate being aligned with a badass woman. And more importantly, we're focusing on what's impacting people locally.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:02:22

And they're already rocket shipping off the like national headlines. It was, it was a good day for our campaign yesterday. It's incredible energy here. And on the confluence of this, it's just really starting to propel it forward. And this has really been the case for this campaign that we're rolling right now, is that We have been ahead of the curve, kind of every step of the way, which has been great.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:02:46

So our field game just started a month early because people are getting excited early and folding in to support us. The visibility is lifting, the national energy, all of the things that you need to really start to move into this race are happening. In lockstep, and it's getting really exciting for me that we're taking the cracks in the ceiling and breaking those just like it's happening on a national level, and that this path that we're able to pay it right now is going to change their trajectory.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:03:18

And when this seat flips. It truly will change the landscape of politics in the upstate. And the way we see people folding in right now in this moment tells me that this can be done.

Katelyn: 00:03:33

That's proof in the pudding. You just said you started your ground game a month early. What that means is that you've raised enough money to have ground game this long in the campaign.

Katelyn: 00:03:43

And that alone, you were raising money far before Biden dropped out. And you have done such a great job when the Democrats weren't giving to the extent that they're giving now. Kamala has completely upended the donations since she was endorsed a month and some days ago. But you have been doing this in the upstate and building that energy long before Biden.

Katelyn: 00:04:09

And so I think that's incredible. That alone demonstrates exactly what you're saying.

Grace: 00:04:16

The energy there is palpable. We've all been watching it. It comes through the television. Katelyn and I have been texting all night. And then there are all these awesome memes of the roll call for the Republicans versus the roll call for the Democrats.

Grace: 00:04:28

Like the old people of our party, we've taken their keys and now the young people are running this convention and it shows. How do you take that energy and actually implement it on the ground in Greenville?

Kathryn Harvey: 00:04:42

I think what Katelyn hit on is that We were already building the movement before all of this flipped and what's most exciting for me is that we're able to meet people in the moment in real time and activate them because we have a plan in place, the infrastructure in place and the funding in place.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:05:03

It not only strengthens the congressional ground game, but it strengthens the entire down ballot. Our individual campaigns are working in lockstep. The parties are pulling their weight. It's just such a moment. We actually just heard from Chair Harrison. He came and surprised us at breakfast. Remind everybody that we have a job to do and that you can't just sit there and complain about your politics because this is time to work and we're going to walk out of here tomorrow and it's going to be real and we've got 74 days till this election and we have to use each and every one of them and every single person has to do their job.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:05:39

That is exactly what we're taking home to message to folks. But again, in the last month, our local party. Is a revolving door in that office. People are just walking in off the street with excitement. How can I plug in? What can I do? We had a local event just for folks to meet our down ballot candidates.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:06:00

Three weeks ago, folks came to downtown Spartanburg from Greer, Landrum, and Greenville because they're excited about what we're building right now for them to be able to see that there is a slate of 17 candidates on the Democratic side of the ticket between Greenville and Spartanburg who are already out.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:06:22

Meeting their communities where they are, whose campaigns are sophisticated, and they're moving, and that there is that much local choice on the ballot in an area that has been counted out. I don't think anybody sees this coming, and that is what makes it so special. I couldn't be more thrilled to be the damn underdog right now.

Grace: 00:06:43

And a lot of it is just connection. That's what we hear a lot from Democrats throughout the state is that I feel like a drop of blue in a sea of red. And so it's really that group excitement of. Showing people that there are a lot more Dems here than you actually think. And it's hard to believe that when you see Trump boat parades and the flags on the trucks and all of those things, but knowing that there is a pretty strong group of Democrats in the state is empowering.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:07:14

It is. And we just have to remember too, it's not just Democrats. We are in a moment of partyless people looking for a home or haven't felt at home and we need them specifically in an area like ours, in the upstate. Folks are looking to get engaged, even if they don't identify, they don't walk around with a capital D pen on their shoulder or whatever.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:07:39

So I'm feeling that just as much as our core people coming out and mobilizing and getting back to work. But I will say this, we're just full throttle. We're focused on lifting families. And that means. Attainable housing, affordable health care, access to quality education, like all of these issues for me come back to lifting families in the upstate and it's happening in a way that is.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:08:07

It's not just like spoon feeding the hope and the joy, people are truly mobilizing around positivity for the first time in a decade and we all need it so badly and I think anybody that was around an Obama 08, that's the closest they can compare it to right now, but they're saying it's beyond and I think being in the room with it.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:08:30

Brock and Michelle, you can tell from them that this is different. That's what's really exciting because like, God, if young people come out the way we think they're going to come out, that truly changes the direction of a party that also needs to be thinking about who we are and how we're moving forward in the future, far beyond just this convention.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:08:52

Um, and kudos to the apparatus that turned in four fricking weeks to get here. Because a lot of us didn't think that was going to be possible. They're like proving any naysayer wrong right now.

Grace: 00:09:05

It's like they hired the Superbowl production team that does the halftime show for the campaign.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:09:11

Yeah. Yeah.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:09:12

It's, it's definitely that level. And I think you have a lot of folks. folding back in from previous administrations who were at the top of their game. And it's just an all in moment to propel this forward. And I'll say this too, 100 percent we're fighting to have a Madam President.

Grace: 00:09:30

Yeah.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:09:30

But this feels so much bigger than a person.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:09:35

And I'm not sure our political landscape has felt like that on this level in a minute. It truly feels like Of the people for the people and I think that is incredibly important right now because we have to remember That the people have the power and that these seats belong to us And that's what I want to bring back to south carolina, too Because it's just like that mantra that you've got to keep reminding people That they can stand up and fight for this.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:10:07

We're in this like bubble of joy right now, but nothing Is Can be taken for granted.

Grace: 00:10:13

I love that you just described the Democrat convention as a bubble of joy. That's amazing.

Katelyn: 00:10:20

Let's be clear. It's probably the exact opposite of what would have happened if Joe was still our nominee. I don't want to pop any bubbles.

Katelyn: 00:10:27

Listen, I have done nothing but canned tomatoes and watch the DNC. Don't pop the bubble of joy. Katelyn, but everybody's thinking it. And, and again, I've said this before. I'll say it now. I think Joe Biden has been an absolutely phenomenal president. I watched his speech on Monday night and I was so grateful he was not the candidate we were nominating for the next four years.

Katelyn: 00:10:50

And I think there is a collective sense of relief. Yes, it's joy and everybody's naming it as joy, but it is relief because of all the things you just said, Kathryn, it is about a movement. It is youth. It is vibrant. It is what America should be and should feel like. We are not a country of fear and pain and suffering all the time.

Katelyn: 00:11:15

Yes, it is woven through our history, but the reality is we always come out on the other side, feeling unity. And that is why we have survived since our constitution was written.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:11:28

You know what I think about too? So I came from international development, moved back to South Carolina. I've got 180, right? Like hyper, hyper local, this is where the work needs to be done.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:11:39

But I always think about the rest of the world is watching us. They are. And this week it was just like, okay, the rest of the world needs this too. This is about how we are moving forward as a collective for. Our nieces and nephews and kids and et cetera, and cats and our dogs,

Kathryn Harvey: 00:12:06

so much bigger than just the United States right now. And I think that's also sitting with me as well. I'm actually missing Kamala tonight. I'm getting on a plane in an hour and I'm flying back for an event in Greenville because my focus has to turn immediately back to my district. But you're talking about how are you going to bring this back?

Kathryn Harvey: 00:12:26

I'm literally going to go speak to a room of 50 people tonight and bring it back and tell them what the possibility is because we're already doing it in the upstate. The parallels of what is being messaged. Actualized felt up here. We're already feeling down in our district. And Gracie, you were saying there's so many more Democrats and people realize we had over a hundred people show up at our local party meeting two weeks ago.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:12:56

And it wasn't like we had some huge guest speaker. That is just an active call to arms. And those numbers have been. Staying consistent. My parents, retired teacher friends who have never gotten political or given to a campaign or a candidate in her life, or like knocking on doors for me and dropping off checks to my parents and like getting their kids excited here in college and stuff like that.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:13:20

There's so many people that I think are finding their way. To this moment that haven't had a place like we'll all be the better for it being able to keep this energy up moving into this election cycle and beyond. And that's part of the charge for the upstate. None of this stops after this year, not an iota of it. We have a 10 year plan now.

Grace: 00:13:43

And we're also feels like. This was the giant pep rally, not to go to Tim Walz on it, but this was the pep rally and let's get back to the game. Let's go win the game. That's exactly right. All right, Kathryn, I know you have to run and you've got to get back to Greenville and get this game rolling.

Grace: 00:14:01

So I cannot tell you how much we appreciate you checking in with us from the convention. And we're so excited to talk to you again as your campaign continues.

Kathryn Harvey: 00:14:10

Awesome. Y'all appreciate you appreciate everything you do.

TJ: 00:14:13

You're listening to a special episode of Second Helping with Grace and Katelyn.

TJ: 00:14:17

Their guest for this segment from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago is Brady Quirk-Garvan, longtime Democratic political strategist who ran Joe Biden's first in the nation campaign.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:14:29

Life is great. Life is exciting. It's a good time to be a Democrat and a great time up here in Chicago.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:14:37

Honored to be up here.

Grace: 00:14:38

It's been like a huge celebration. How does a red state like South Carolina take all of that and make that prep rally come back here into a big happy bubble way?

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:14:52

So this is my fourth convention that I've been to and I will tell you that the energy I have never seen it like this before.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:14:59

Never. And it is truly exciting for a couple of reasons. One, I think there's something energizing for folks that are volunteers or donors or candidates. They're going to come back with some real energy juice in the batteries. They're going to be ready. And I think the way we translate that to South Carolina is understanding that there are some folks that are going to be activated now.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:15:19

And That were not on the table two months ago, there were some folks that statehouse candidates, countywide candidates that honestly, they weren't worth reaching out to two, three months ago because they weren't going to vote. They weren't excited about anyone at the top of the ticket. They were just going to sit at home because they felt like their vote didn't matter.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:15:37

And what we have the ability to do now is say, I know that you're excited because you're either motivated by. Coach walls or by vice president Harris, like you feel some momentum, you feel some energy. What can we do to get you out to vote in South Carolina and knowing that they will then vote in down ballot races as well.

Grace: 00:15:55

And you is the former chair of the Charleston County Dems. How do you feel like this helps the party? Does this give an influx of money to the state party so they can start building out teams and all the districts and doing all the things that are on their wish list, but they've always needed the money to do it?

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:16:14

Realistically, what this helps with is volunteer capacity. And so one of the things that sort of is this chicken and the egg thing is like, It's basically September. And so an influx of money now is critical. And if you're have the ability to give you absolutely should give and give often and give a lot.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:16:30

But I think what this really amounts to is we're going to have a number of women in Charleston and across the state who were probably going to go vote but might come out and knock doors two or three weekends between now and November. We're going to have a bunch of dads who might have gone and voted but not been comfortable talking about it at work very much to their neighbors and their co workers about Man, I am super excited about Kamala and Tim. Are you? And so there are these conversations and voices and volunteer opportunities that we have the ability to surge now that we did not have before. I think the money is critical and building the infrastructure is important thinking longer term.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:17:11

But in, in the short term, I think what this allows us to do is say, instead of the Charleston County party being able to knock on maybe 1, 000 to 2, 000 doors probably can knock on 5 to 7, 000 now. And like that will make a difference in many races.

Grace: 00:17:25

I think that's an interesting point because I think for a while in this state, people have almost been embarrassed to be a Democrat or they had that.

Grace: 00:17:34

It's almost like what people say, Catholic guilt. It's like Democrat guilt of we've got this candidate and he's fine and he'll probably do the. Good policies, but he's not out. We don't have a SIS Boomba moment of being able to cheer. And I feel like this convention has just opened up this big, vibrant feeling of empowerment and said, there are a lot more Democrats than you realize.

Grace: 00:18:00

And you should be proud of who we are. And nobody has a lock on American patriotism. Like we too are Americans and we love our country and we are patriots. Republicans aren't the only people that can fly American flags in front of their house. And to me, that feels like a really important turning point.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:18:19

100%. And I will say, I feel like I've seen a hell of a lot more American flags at the Democratic convention than I did at the Republican convention where they were solely Bowing down to their idol Trump. And it was all about one man. It was not about the country. And what you've seen repeatedly at the democratic convention is a wide array of people, men, women, black, white, lifelong Democrats and lifelong Republicans saying this.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:18:45

Election this time is about America versus Trump. It is not about Democrat versus Republican. It's not about Harris versus Trump. Even this is about America versus Trump. And are you going to vote for a singular man who wants to be a dictator? Or are you going to vote for American ideals that brings everyone to the table?

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:19:03

And I think that's part of what you're talking about. This ability to talk about that safely. Like. Jeff Duncan talking last night, I think was really important. Like that is a man who I fundamentally disagree with him on probably everything policy related and have probably thought some less than positive things about him in the past when he was running for office.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:19:25

And I think one of the things that I deeply appreciate about him is he said, I am not losing my morals or convictions. He and I are still going to disagree on a number of things, and that's great and fine, but at the end of the day, he said, we need to be able to keep American democracy, and that's why I'm supporting Kamala, and I think allowing that space, and especially in a state like South Carolina, where even folks who might vote Democratic might not want to Identify with the brand of being a Democrat.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:19:51

We believe as a party that you can come and vote for us and you don't need to wave a Trump flag. We're not like that. We don't think you need a Harris button on you all the time to be a Harris supporter. You can go vote for her in the privacy of your own home. You can go vote early for her. You can go vote on election day.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:20:10

And that is a secret ballot. You are allowed to go in and do whatever. you want in that ballot box, and we respect that because we respect people. We respect your ability to make choices, whether it's at the ballot box or in the doctor's office, and the other party does not. And so we just want to keep that framework alive that says we believe in giving you choices.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:20:29

On a variety of issues and the other party does not. And no matter how you've identified in the past, when it comes to political ideology, we welcome you because we believe in America that diversity is our strength and that bringing people together is going to make us a better nation.

Grace: 00:20:46

Diversity of beliefs in how policy should work. There are more ways to, to get to good policy than just one Trump vision.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:20:55

A hundred percent. And like the whole point of America, the, the entire way we were set up was that we should disagree on things, that we get better results when we have multiple ideas coming together to come up with the best idea, as opposed to a dictator or a king.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:21:10

And I think that is why America was founded, was to move away. From a singular man saying, this is how it shall be

Katelyn: 00:21:15

Brady I wanna laser focus and a little bit on the first night where Hillary spoke. Yeah, I want to chat about this because there's been so much commentary post Hillary speech that sort of says two things.

Katelyn: 00:21:28

One, it's probably the best political speech. She's ever given. And two, it still feels reminiscent in terms of her language about glass ceilings and breaking it and honed in on the fact that she's a female, counter to Kamala, who has basically yet to ever mention that she's a female. And so I'm interested, what is DNC around that conversation?

Katelyn: 00:21:55

Have you discussed it with anyone? Other delegates, what are people feeling when it comes to that juxtaposition and presentation of a former candidate and the current candidate?

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:22:06

Yeah, I think one of the things that it speaks to, and I think you've seen this play out, not just with Hillary and Kamala, but on a number of speakers is we as a party are in the midst of a generational shift.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:22:18

And one of the things that I think about is when Hillary Clinton talks about breaking the glass ceiling. I know that is like for my mother and folks of her generation, that is something that they feel deep in their heart. That is, that is language that they understand, they know, and can think about times at their work and in their career where they saw that and either couldn't break through that or were held back by it or saw someone do it and felt pride, but that speaks to them.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:22:47

And when I talk. With women that are more of my generation, that language may not necessarily resonate as much as happens with every generation that doesn't necessarily speak to them as much. And so to me, what I find frustrating is that as often happens when you have successful women in the same arena, there is this tendency by society to say, let's pit them against each other.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:23:12

And I, to me, what I look at it as is Hillary Clinton is there saying. Thank you to everyone who is there with me. Thank you for putting me so close to being able to do that. And thank God we have another chance to do that. And Kamala taking that baton and talking about it differently, but it's the same idea of saying we are going to be a country that elects the best person.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:23:34

And that best person is Kamala Harris. And that is how she wants to talk about it. But I think they're speaking the same story. They're talking about the same things. We're just seeing a generational shift in how we talk about that.

Katelyn: 00:23:47

That's the best hot take I've seen.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:23:50

I'll tell you the last part that before I left, our daughter just turned six and It's hard to explain to a six year old.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:23:58

What is the Democratic Convention? And why is dad going away for four days to Chicago? I don't get this. And it's understood. That's fine. But so we're talking about, she understands that there's a president and we vote for the president. She's been with me to vote a couple of times. She likes pressing the button.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:24:13

I want her to understand that voting is something that we do as a family. And I was explaining to her and I said, I really want to help elect the president. This woman Kamala Harris to be the president and she was like, okay, that's nice. And I said, what's funny is up until now, every president has been a boy.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:24:32

We've never had a girl president and the face that she made will sit with me for the rest of my life because it wasn't anger. It wasn't frustration. It was like, That just seems weird. And I know that I will be thinking of that when Kamala Harris speaks, because I know what it will mean to her to grow up in a world where Kamala will be a groundbreaking president and being the first female, but I want May to grow up in a world where that is not unique, where that is not special, because we are electing the best person, regardless of their race or gender.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:25:09

And I think we're starting to see that in many other facets and legislatures and governors offices and in the Senate, we're getting much better. But like, I want me to grow up in a world where that is not historic. And seeing her face reminded me it shouldn't be historic. She's I can do everything a boy can do.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:25:26

Why is this different? And I want her to keep that mentality that says this almost shouldn't be special. And I think that's part of why, too, you see the framing differently in the way that that Harris speaks about herself and her candidacy is just that is that generational shift away from making it a historic moment to normalize.

Katelyn: 00:25:50

What I will say, having watched way too many hours of political speeches this week, is that there are so many women present on camera, which when you look at prior conventions, just, it is a stark departure from where we were before, whether it was the amount of women who announced the delegate votes during roll call or the breakdown of the people who have been on the main stage.

Katelyn: 00:26:15

Like I have goosebumps. It just feels. It's so inclusive of everyone's experience in this country. That is what is making me so excited at home while I'm canning my tomatoes and dancing in my kitchen.

Grace: 00:26:28

It is inclusive of every skin color, every religion. It just, when you see the stark contrast. That are all over social media right now of what the RNC looks like versus what the DNC looked like It feels like if you were at the RNC you're waiting in line to get into the cool club And it's the senior citizens club with walkers stand outside of the door

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:26:52

And I think part of that is a you're spot on and that is not Selective takes like that is how I feel sitting in that arena every night or stadium every night Like it is a diverse setting You Age wise ability, physical ability, all of this.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:27:09

And one of the things that I love and folks on the podcast can't see this, but I'm a white straight boy that grew up in upper middle class family. I am not what one thinks of when one thinks of diversity, but my life is made richer because of everyone around me. And I know that when I'm on that floor and talking to people that don't look like me or don't come from the same background as me, there is nothing that has been taken away from me.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:27:34

I am gaining infinitely from being around folks that look differently than me, that come from different backgrounds, and I think that's what the Democratic Party is trying to say, is that We are all enhanced regardless of where we come from, regardless of of what we look like or who we love. We are better people when we're around folks that are different from us and we're learning and getting better.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:27:58

And I think that is at the end of the day, what this is about is, are we a better nation? Because of our differences, and can we pull that together to make a more perfect union? Or are we going to try and whittle it down, exclude people, exclude people until we're sitting alone by ourselves in a room because that is the only place we feel safe?

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:28:18

And that's just not the world I want to live in. I want to live in a world where we go out and talk to our neighbors. Believe in our neighbors, and we won't all agree that is what makes America great. Is that not everyone has to look like me or talk like me or have my same background. That's what makes us great.

Grace: 00:28:34

I think that Brady, you're what brought the diversity to the DNC. You're in the minority at the DNC. You're in the reverse situation.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:28:45

Yeah. And that's not a, that's not a bad thing to me at all. And I think that's a great thing. The part that like, I want to hammer home to other white boys like me is my life is better for being around folks that don't look like me.

Grace: 00:28:58

Okay. So speaking of that, can you ask your mom or have her come on the podcast and tell us her take on Lil Jon?

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:29:07

I sure will ask. Lil Jon was amazing. And part of this, like, this is again, I've been at this too long, but like, Roll calls have not always been exciting. I'll just say that.

Katelyn: 00:29:18

Not always. Roll calls have never been exciting.

Grace: 00:29:22

I downloaded the soundtrack to the roll call of the DNC. Who's ever said that ever?

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:29:28

No, and I think the roll call is like the pinnacle of how do you take something that is, to be honest, pretty mundane. You read down a list and say, how do you cast your ballot? mundane perfunctory like meeting thing you have to do and the designers and the producers that worked on this convention, this is top notch talent and like the Men and women that have put this together Deserve credit because they met the moment and on a very short schedule, right?

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:29:58

We got to remember that two months ago They were not planning the layout and plan that has happened here. And that involves changing speakers, changing messaging, and to flip that on a dime and put together something that is engaging. And again, to go back to it, engaging to people as. My mother's generation and older, and then even to like our, our babysitter, who it turns out, and this pains me, but was born after Bill Clinton left office, but like they have put together this list of speakers and engagement that speaks to everyone.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:30:33

In a unified way, and that is a very incredible talent that I don't know exactly who all is leading that, but they've done an incredible job.

Katelyn: 00:30:41

I'm convinced it's millennials. I hope they get nominated for an Emmy because it has entertained me in a way that the DNC has never entertained me. I'm here for it.

Grace: 00:30:51

Same. Same. It has been just, I have been moved to tears and joy and like every emotion through this week. And I don't even usually watch the conventions. Tim Walz's speech, bringing down the house. Like I just

Katelyn: 00:31:05

Wait, wait, pause. Can we please talk about Gus? His son, Gus. Yes, sweet Gus. I was weeping watching Gus's pride for his father.

Katelyn: 00:31:17

My dad passed away almost 15 years ago, but I had that love for my father. There wasn't anything my father could do that I thought was wrong, even when he was wrong. The way he kept just like pounding his chest. chest and like pointing at his dad. And that's my dad. Oh, that will stick with me forever.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:31:35

And it speaks to me too, because it's also that is as genuine as it gets, right?

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:31:39

No one intentionally wants to cry and be emotional on national TV. And yet when you feel that strongly and so moved in the moment, there is nothing you can do to stop those emotions. And that is how at his core, the Tim Walz is a good man. at his core again, he may make mistakes along the way. We're all fallible.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:31:56

We all will make mistakes, but Tim Walls is a good man who believes in putting other people first. And I. I can't help but contrast that to the other convention in which I don't know that Trump or J. D. Vance have ever put anyone besides themselves first. And part of that is you see that in the reaction from people they know.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:32:18

And you saw not just this son, but them bringing out the football team that he had coached. Like you just realized that this is a man who has committed his life to helping others. And I just think that on a core value statement. Good Lord. That's what we need in elected officials because all too often it's about the ego, it's about the self, it's about power grabbing, and you just get the sense that Tim Walz couldn't be in elected office, he wouldn't change a thing about his life.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:32:48

That is what we need. And it's authentic. It feels real. And when you see a son do that and get emotional, of course, how, like that just hits it. You're at the core of who we are as humans.

Grace: 00:33:00

Okay, last thing, because I think we have to jump here, but one of my other highlights, it's Doug.

Katelyn: 00:33:09

He's so self deprecating and I love it. Brady, you were generous enough to extend an invite, uh, to me when Doug was in South Carolina recently. So I got to see him in a really small space. There must have been maybe 40 people at that event. And I will tell you everything he was on that main stage. He was in that room with a much smaller crowd.

Katelyn: 00:33:32

He seems like Tim Walz, a very genuine man who thrives when his partner is thriving and who has invested in the safety and happiness of his family. And that's not to say that. Things are perfect, right, but has navigated an imperfect life with his partner.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:33:55

Isn't that, I think part of why that, that strikes our fields, if you will, is that we all probably have some aspect of that in our lives, right?

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:34:04

Like I don't know anyone who has a quote unquote, perfect. Like, I don't even know what that really would be. We've all been met with bumps, adversity, setbacks, all that. And at the end of the day, when those happen, do you go and say, Screw that person. It's their fault. This is what happened. Or do you say, all right, that was a setback.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:34:23

We're going forward. And I will tell you, Katelyn, I got to spend some time with him that day. I spent two days with him traveling through South Carolina. And we're down in Beaufort and we're walking. We had a little extra time. So we're walking to this coffee shop and a couple of us are walking along and there's secret service around.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:34:42

And these two folks walk by and they go. Oh, you're Mr. Harris, Mr. Harris, which is not his last name. It's Doug Emhoff. And what was amazing to me was he lit up. He had the biggest smile. He said, yes, I am. I am so excited about my wife. And this is when she was just on the ticket as the VP. And just to see that.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:35:04

And, and again, it hit to me at its core of, you're right. He is so happy at how successful his partner. is. And at the end of the day, God, that's what we all want is a partner who supports you, who loves you, who is there for you and feels at their fullest when you are thriving. And I think Doug embodies that.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:35:27

And again, like Doug has been a wildly successful man in his own right, in his own career. And yet that's not what he's out bragging about. He says, I am proud because of my children, because of what Kamala is doing. And because of this country that we're building. And I just think the decency is something that has been lacking from politics for a while.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:35:47

I think that is why you're seeing some Republicans speak out. At this convention, I think that's why you're seeing big swings in independents saying, wow, I really was undecided or was apathetic. If the choice is decency or Trump, I know where I'm going and not just out of obligation. Like I am excited to vote for decency again.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:36:09

And it's not just. Kamala and Tim, it is their families. It is the people they've surrounded themselves with. And that's just, it's thrilling to be a part of that.

Grace: 00:36:19

Okay. I think we have to end here, but wait, why was I not invited to meet Doug Emhoff? Sorry,

Katelyn: 00:36:24

Brady. I'm sorry. Didn't mean to throw you under the bus there.

Katelyn: 00:36:29

Oh, come on.

Brady Quirk-Garvan: 00:36:30

I'm pretty sure you were out of town, Grace.

Katelyn: 00:36:32

Oh, okay. Okay. That's good.

Grace: 00:36:33

Good one, Brady. Good one. All right. That's all the stew for today.

TJ: 00:36:38

The second helping podcast is written and hosted by Grace Cowan and Katelyn Brewer. Editing and IT support provided by Eric Johnson. Produced and directed by T. J. Phillips with the Podcast Solutions Network. Give me more.