Frogmore Stew

Grace Cowan | The Alliance Coalition
  • 5.0 (27)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Frogmore Stew is a bold, unfiltered podcast serving up the South’s political history, cultural contradictions, and modern-day reckonings—one spicy episode at a time. Hosted by Southern truth-tellers who love their home and refuse to sugarcoat its reality, Frogmore Stew blends sharp analysis, personal storytelling, and a whole lot of side-eye to explore the people, policies, and power structures shaping life in the Palmetto State. Whether you're a political junkie, a justice-seeker, or just curious about what’s cooking in the South—pull up a chair. This stew’s got heat.

  1. 1D AGO

    When Gerrymandering Ends Accountability

    South Carolina politics are being warped by a system designed to protect power, not voters. When districts are drawn to eliminate competition and dark money floods campaigns through super PACs, lawmakers stop fearing the ballot box and accountability disappears. This conversation breaks down how gerrymandering suppresses turnout, why uncontested elections are becoming the norm, and how campaign finance rules fuel extreme legislation. It also makes the case that filing for office itself can be a direct way to push back and restore real political accountability in South Carolina. 00:00 Introduction 01:58 Campaign Finance Basics 04:48 Super PACs, Citizens United, and Red Boxing 09:39 Can Campaign Finance Be Fixed? 12:52 Mothers and Preborns Act 15:12 Gerrymandering, Primaries, and Rigging 22:15 How Filing for Office Fights Gerrymandering 29:40 South Carolina Demographic Shifts 36:13 Resist and Unsubscribe & Catnapping

    41 min

  2. 3D AGO

    Upstate Tea - The Missing Class

    The missing class is working hard and still falling behind. This conversation digs into new research from Spartanburg County that shows how thousands of working families live just above the poverty line while remaining one crisis away from losing everything. Sociology professor Colby King explains why wages, housing, childcare, and policy choices are pushing the working poor further from stability, even in fast growing communities. The discussion centers dignity, lived experience, and what it really means when work no longer guarantees economic security.

    29 min

  3. 4D AGO

    The Sister Senators: The Heels Come Off

    South Carolina punished five women for standing up to power, and the consequences are still unfolding. The Sister Senators join Frogmore Stew for a live conversation about crossing party lines, losing their seats, and what it costs women to challenge abortion bans in the South Carolina Senate. They speak candidly about retaliation, misinformation, and the deeply personal toll of fighting for reproductive rights in a legislature dominated by men. The conversation also lays out what advocates can do right now as new abortion restrictions and criminalization efforts move through the State House.

    54 min

  4. JAN 30

    2nd Helping: We can’t win, if you don’t run. w/ Rep. Kambrell Garvin and Brady Quirk Garvan

    Democracy doesn’t fail all at once. It fades when races go uncontested and communities are left without a real choice. Joined by Rep. Kambrell Garvin and Brady Quirk Garvan, the conversation breaks down how unopposed elections, gerrymandered districts, and political burnout are reshaping South Carolina politics from the ground up. They explain why running for state house, county council, or local office still matters, even in tough districts, and how showing up on the ballot creates accountability where none exists. If representation is going to mean anything, someone has to be willing to run.

    57 min

  5. JAN 28

    A Call to Rise, Love Forward, and Act Together w/ Anthony Milian

    A packed house in Spartanburg hears a moral call that feels urgent, grounded, and impossible to ignore. Following Reverend William Barber’s powerful address, Katherine Harvey sits down with historian and storyteller Anthony Milian to unpack what it means to love forward, build coalitions, and turn shared struggle into collective action. They trace the historical roots of today’s political moment, talk democracy, dignity, and why local leadership matters more than ever in South Carolina. The conversation lands on a clear challenge: this moment is not about despair, it is about organizing, running for office, and choosing to act together.

    29 min

  6. JAN 27

    An Alternative to Running for Office w/ Senator Ed Sutton

    Not everyone who wants change is meant to run for office and that does not mean they are powerless. State Senator Ed Sutton explains how everyday South Carolinians can serve on local boards, influence key decisions, and shape public policy without campaigns, party labels, or partisan fights. From transportation and aviation to foster care and judicial appointments, this conversation breaks down where real civic power lives at the local level. It is a practical guide to public service that shows how government actually functions beyond elections.

    37 min

  7. JAN 23

    10% Control 100% of South Carolina Politics w/ Spencer Wetmore

    South Carolina’s legislative fights are heating up, and the stakes for voters keep getting higher. Grace is joined by Spencer Wetmore for a wide ranging conversation on closed primary proposals, gerrymandering, school voucher expansion, abortion medication restrictions, and how a small percentage of voters end up controlling state politics. They unpack how these bills actually work, who benefits from them, and why so many independents feel pushed out of the process. It is a candid look at how power operates in Columbia and what these choices mean for the future of South Carolina. 00:00 Introduction 00:41 Spencer on Stepping Out of Politics 02:42 South Carolina Closed Primary Bills 07:33 Party Control and Voter Access 13:43 South Carolina School Voucher Expansion 16:29 Who Benefits From Vouchers? 18:53 Abortion Pill Restrictions 23:39 Gerrymandering and Safe Seats 27:24 Tax Cuts, Safety Bills, and Roads 31:05 Budget, Earmarks, and Final Notes

    34 min

  8. JAN 21

    Politics, Power, and Prosecution in South Carolina w/ Dick Harpootlian

    From prosecuting a notorious serial killer to defending one of the most watched murder trials in modern history, Dick Harpootlian has seen every side of power and justice in South Carolina. Grace talks with the longtime attorney, former state senator, and Democratic Party chair about decades of state politics, party strategy, and how money and messaging shape who actually wins elections. Dick also digs into his new book on Pee Wee Gaskins, reflecting on criminal psychology, the death penalty, and how those cases changed him personally. It’s a candid, wide-ranging conversation that blends Southern political history, true crime, and hard-earned perspective. 00:00 Introduction 00:55 Who Is Dick Harpootlian? 01:54 Note on what County Council is? 03:27 Public Corruption Prosecution Work 05:58 What He Learned in the S 08:03 State Party Chair Leadership 14:18 Media, Narratives & Public Perception 16:10 Diversity, Quotas, and Caucuses 18:08 Pee Wee Gaskins Case

    28 min
See All (172)

5
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

Frogmore Stew is a bold, unfiltered podcast serving up the South’s political history, cultural contradictions, and modern-day reckonings—one spicy episode at a time. Hosted by Southern truth-tellers who love their home and refuse to sugarcoat its reality, Frogmore Stew blends sharp analysis, personal storytelling, and a whole lot of side-eye to explore the people, policies, and power structures shaping life in the Palmetto State. Whether you're a political junkie, a justice-seeker, or just curious about what’s cooking in the South—pull up a chair. This stew’s got heat.

Information

  • Creator
    Grace Cowan | The Alliance Coalition
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    172
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Grace Cowan | The Alliance Coalition
  • Show Website
    Frogmore Stew