A Couple Thinks Podcast

Lisa & Aaron try to make sense of a messy world

Think along with Lisa and Aaron, as we try to make sense of a messy world—with clarity, compassion, and a dash of humor. acouplethinks.substack.com

  1. Experience Counts

    2d ago

    Experience Counts

    In this week’s episode, we start by answering “Why does California take so long to count ballots?” It’s a question that comes up after nearly every election, and with several closely watched races still too close to call, we decided to dig into the answer. As it turns out, the delay isn’t a sign of fraud; instead, it’s largely a sign that election officials are doing exactly what we want them to do: verify signatures, review provisional ballots, process mail ballots postmarked by election day, and make sure every legitimate vote is counted accurately. While talking about the candidates still battling for second-place spots in California’s top-two primary system, we found ourselves discussing a much bigger issue: our growing fascination with political outsiders. Why are voters increasingly drawn to candidates with little or no government experience? Is being a “career politician” really a flaw? And what kinds of experience actually prepare someone to govern effectively? We discuss: * Why California’s vote-counting process takes weeks * The difference between speed and accuracy in elections * The rise of outsider candidates on both the left and right * Whether governing should be treated like any other profession * Examples ranging from Graham Platner and Tom Steyer to Arnold Schwarzenegger * The role of charisma, communication, and what the kids call “rizz” * A better question than “Are they an insider or outsider?” Along the way, we compare politicians to surgeons and pilots, revisit California’s governor’s race, and wrestle with the tension between wanting change and wanting competence. As always, we close with ways to get involved, plus some joyful moments—including local pod gatherings, live improv, NPR fandom, and a festival that we hope will have more thematic consistency than a certain cherry festival. 🎧 Give it a listen and let us know what you think: What experiences do you think best prepare someone for elected office? Should we prioritize fresh perspectives, proven experience, or some combination of both? We’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you’d like to share ideas for future episodes, reach out at hello@acouplethinks.com Get full access to A Couple Thinks at acouplethinks.substack.com/subscribe

    26 min
  2. Don't take the bait

    Jun 2

    Don't take the bait

    As the midterm campaigns move into high gear, one thing is already clear: the culture wars are back. This week, we explore why so much political rhetoric focuses on topics designed to provoke outrage, fear, or endless debate—and why that often pulls attention away from the issues that affect people’s daily lives. We discuss recent examples of political figures using culture-war attacks as a distraction, and examine how communicators like Pete Buttigieg, James Talarico, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Zohran Mamdani have found effective ways to redirect those conversations toward affordability, healthcare, housing, and other kitchen-table concerns. The conversation looks at: * Why culture-war topics can be such effective political distractions * The difference between defending a position and reframing the conversation * How Democrats are beginning to develop more effective responses * Lessons from recent campaigns and social media strategies * Why joy, authenticity, and humor may be more powerful than outrage Aaron introduces his “Novel Presidential Virus” theory, comparing the political challenges of the past decade to learning how to respond to a new disease: nobody knew the right treatment at first, but we’re starting to identify what works. As always, the episode closes with practical actions listeners can take, along with a few joyful moments from the week—including front porch progress, family visits, and exciting travel plans for our daughter. If you’ve ever felt exhausted by political distractions and wondered how to keep the focus on the issues that matter most, this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now and join the conversation. We always love hearing from listeners at hello@acouplethinks.com. Get full access to A Couple Thinks at acouplethinks.substack.com/subscribe

    21 min
  3. How we voted.

    May 26

    How we voted.

    This week’s episode is a shorter one for Memorial Day weekend. We start with a reflection on Memorial Day itself — not just the sales and barbecues many of us grew up with, but the original purpose of honoring those who lost their lives in military service, and what it means to think about sacrifice, citizenship, and the state of the country today. From there, we pivot to the topic on many Californian’s minds: next week’s upcoming primary! It’s here, it’s here! And after several weeks (okay, months) of thinking, reading endorsements, comparing candidates, changing our minds, and generally doing what political nerds do… we finally filled in our ballots and will likely have dropped them in the ballot box by the time this airs. In this episode, Lisa walks through the process she used to evaluate candidates, including resources like Blue Voter Guide, local endorsements, newspaper analysis, and some personal decision-making criteria around experience, coalition-building, and electability. We also talk through a handful of races where there wasn’t a clear consensus and explain where we landed and why. This isn’t meant to be the guide. It’s simply an example of one way to approach voting thoughtfully and intentionally. We also talk about: * Why California’s open primary system continues to create strategic dilemmas * Why primaries deserve more attention than they often get * Bringing ballots to drop boxes early (and the oddly satisfying feeling of getting the texts from the county registrar saying they’ve been received and counted) * Postcards, calls, and small ways to stay engaged locally And because no episode is complete without it, we close with Joyful Moments: porch renovation progress, winding down long-running projects, and the strange possibility that we may need to retrain ourselves to walk up newly even stairs. As promised, here are the resources: * Blue Voter Guide * Alameda County Dems * California Dems * LA Times Analysis (may be paywalled) * SF Chronicle Endorsements (gift link) * Wellstone Endorsements * Working Families Party And our list of California ballot selections: Governor: Xavier Becerra Lt. Governor: Michael Tubbs Secretary of State: Shirley Weber Controller: Malia Cohen Treasurer: Eleni Kounalakis Attorney General: Rob Bonta Insurance Commissioner: Jane Kim State Board of Equalization, 2nd District: Sally Lieber US Representative, 12th Congressional District: Lateefah Simon 14th Assembly District: Buffy Wicks Superior Court Judge Office #13: Michael P. Johnson Superior Court Judge Office #19: Selia Warren State Superintendent of Public Instruction: Nichelle Henderson County Superintendent of Schools: Alysse Castro Alameda County District Attorney: Ursula Jones Dickson Measure A; Peralta Colleges Measure: YES 🎧 Listen wherever you get podcasts, or subscribe at acouplethinks.com to get new episodes and companion posts delivered to your inbox. Questions, ideas, or thoughts? Reach us at hello@acouplethinks.com. Get full access to A Couple Thinks at acouplethinks.substack.com/subscribe

    18 min
  4. Coping Mechanisms

    May 19

    Coping Mechanisms

    We’re coping with a strange balancing act right now. On one hand, the news cycle continues to deliver a steady stream of anxiety, frustration, and outrage. On the other hand, life keeps happening. Summer arrives. Festivals pop up. Families gather. Dessert appears. The sun finally comes out in Berkeley around 1:30 PM. This week on A Couple Thinks, we talk about how we’re trying to navigate that tension without either becoming numb to what’s happening in the country or completely consumed by it. We discuss: * the idea of “hedonic adaptation” and how humans return to emotional baseline * the challenge of staying informed without staying traumatized * guilt, helplessness, and figuring out what we actually can control * why joy and rest are not the same thing as disengagement * summer bucket lists, local adventures, and food festivals as battery recharging strategies * postcards, voter registration, and preparing for the midterms without burning ourselves out Plus:Greek festival recap, loukoumades discourse, weather complaints, Monster Truck Jam memories, and an alarming number of festival recommendations. Sometimes surviving difficult times means protesting.Sometimes it means organizing.And sometimes it means eating fried dough with Nutella while listening to live music in Oakland. We think all three can coexist. Resources we mention: If you’re looking for ways to stay engaged without burning yourself out, here are a few of the organizations and tools we mentioned during the episode: * Postcards to VotersWrite handwritten postcards to encourage voter participation in key races and districts. * Oath.vote (founded by Brian Derrick)Helps identify strategic races and opportunities for donations, volunteering, and organizing. * 5 CallsMakes it easy to contact your elected officials about current issues with scripts and phone numbers. * A Couple Thinks SurveyShare topic ideas, feedback, and questions for future episodes. * We always love hearing your ideas, thoughts, and local recommendations. And as always: shop small and local when you can, support community organizations, and remember to recharge your batteries along the way. Get full access to A Couple Thinks at acouplethinks.substack.com/subscribe

    19 min
  5. The Gerrymander Games

    May 12

    The Gerrymander Games

    Another week, another reminder that democracy is not a “set it and forget it” system. This week on the podcast, we talk about the escalating redistricting battles happening across the country, the continued weakening of the Voting Rights Act, and what we can do to help Democrats take back the House (and maybe the Senate). We also dig into: * Why mid-decade gerrymandering feels like a race to the bottom * Whether voters may be less predictable than political strategists assume * What ordinary people can actually do right now * Why local races and state courts matter more than many people realize * How optimism and pragmatism can coexist, even during exhausting political moments Lisa shares practical ways listeners can prepare for the months ahead — from voter registration and postcards to strategic donations and canvassing opportunities — while Aaron makes the case that even heavily manipulated political maps don’t guarantee voter behavior. Here are some of the resources we mention: Oath.vote Mobilize.us (click on Get out the Vote or Voting Rights for election-focused events) Postcards to Voters And because we still believe in balancing civic engagement with joy, we wrap up with joyful moments featuring: * solo quiet-house time with Tucci the cat, * a visit to Berkeley’s Magnes Museum, * New York adventures, including Broadway musicals and family weddings, * and a renewed appreciation for Berkeley weather. If you’ve been feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, or unsure where to focus your energy, this episode is ultimately about finding productive ways forward without surrendering hope. Give it a listen, and as always, thanks for thinking alongside us. You can also email us at hello@acouplethinks.com or take our listener survey at survey.acouplethinks.com. Get full access to A Couple Thinks at acouplethinks.substack.com/subscribe

    22 min
  6. Reprise: Be a Helper, Find the Good

    May 5

    Reprise: Be a Helper, Find the Good

    Aaron was out of town for most of the past week so we didn’t record a new episode. So, this is a reprise our most downloaded episode; it is from June 2025 called “Be A Helper; Find the Good”. We hope you enjoy it. We will have a new episode in your feed next week so you can hear about Aaron’s travels, amongst other things! In this episode of A Couple Thinks, we’re doing two things: breaking down how to take meaningful local action, even if politics feels like too much, and finding the good news that helps balance out the doom-scroll. Aaron kicks things off with a challenge: If you’re someone with the privilege and comfort to be politically visible, get out there. Join a protest. Write to your representatives. But if politics feels too risky or heavy right now … there are still so many ways to “do something.” We talk about volunteering at food banks, helping out at local events, supporting small businesses, and even joining community organizations like Rotary or your local Chamber of Commerce. These non-political acts of service build community resilience and personal connection. Lisa shares a few ways to dig deeper into community support systems, from Mutual Aid networks to city-led volunteer opportunities. In the second half of the episode, we talk about finding balance. Lisa shares some of her favorite places for positive news—from “Under the Desk News” to the Good News Network—and her commitment to a media diet that includes plenty to celebrate, not just outrage. In our Joyful Moments segment, we celebrate last June’s small wins—from window screen repairs to backyard s’mores. We both rhapsodize about the power of the s’more to bring joy (even the extra-gooey, messy kind). Aaron shares the power of crossword puzzles and finding satisfaction in something as tactile as a sharp pencil and a clever clue. Links mentioned in this episode: * Under the Desk News on Instagram Under the Desk News (on Substack) * Good News Network * Heather Cox Richardson Letters from an American (on Substack) * Joyce Vance Civil Discourse (on Substack) * Preet Bharara: Stay Tuned Podcast and Stay Tuned with Preet (on Substack) * Tim Miller: The Bulwark Podcast and Tim Miller (on Substack) * Democracy Docket Democracy Docket (on Substack) * Mobilize for No Kings Day - June 14 * Postcards to Voters * Five Calls App Get full access to A Couple Thinks at acouplethinks.substack.com/subscribe

    30 min
  7. May Day, May Day, May Day!

    Apr 28

    May Day, May Day, May Day!

    This week’s episode is a quick one. We touch on two things that are very much on our minds right now: the recent California gubernatorial debate and the upcoming May Day actions. On the debate front, our big takeaway is… cautiously reassuring. If any of the Democratic candidates on that stage becomes governor, we’ll be okay. There wasn’t a single breakout moment that reshaped the race, but there also weren’t any major missteps. That said, the structure of California’s open primary system still leaves us a little uneasy. With multiple strong candidates, there’s always the risk of splitting the vote in a way that complicates the outcome. So while we’d love to simply vote our hearts, we will keep an eye on the polling as we approach late May and need to make our decision. From there, we shift to May Day—a day that’s observed in nearly all countries as International Workers’ Day, but notably not in the United States. We dig a bit into the history of how that happened (hint: it involves labor uprisings and some intentional distancing), and talk about why this year feels especially significant. The call to action around May Day is simple, but not necessarily easy:no work, no school, no spending. For many people, participating fully in that may not be realistic—and that’s okay. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s participation. Whether that means attending a local event, skipping non-essential spending, or just being more intentional about supporting small, local businesses, there are ways to show up that fit your life. We also share a few practical reminders: * Check your voter registration and know your primary date * Look into local events (Mobilize.us or a quick Google search can help) * Keep making those small, consistent actions that add up over time And of course, we wrap with our joyful moments, because even in the middle of all this, we’re still finding ways to move our bodies, enjoy community events, and (in Lisa’s case) look forward to some very specific foods while Aaron is out of town. It’s a mix of civic reality and everyday life, per usual. 🎧 Give it a listen and let us know what you think: And as always, you can reach us at hello@acouplethinks.com or take our listener survey at survey.acouplethinks.com. Get full access to A Couple Thinks at acouplethinks.substack.com/subscribe

    16 min
  8. Men Behaving Badly

    Apr 21

    Men Behaving Badly

    It’s been one of those weeks where the headlines feel less like isolated incidents and more like a pattern you can’t ignore. In this episode, we sit with that discomfort—talking through the latest examples of powerful men facing consequences (finally), and the deeper systems that allowed their behavior to persist in the first place. We get into the frustration of “open secrets,” the power dynamics that keep people silent, and the cultural reflex to protect men’s reputations over women’s experiences. Aaron brings in a perspective on what responsibility looks like among men themselves, not just privately disagreeing with bad behavior, but actively calling it out. Because if the culture is going to shift, men need to step up and take action. And because we’re us, we don’t stay in the heaviness the whole time. We also share a genuinely joyful counterpoint: a moment of lightness and humanity from two men, Barack Obama and Zohran Mamdani, that reminded us that masculinity can be playful, present, and deeply human. We wrap, as always, with a few ways to take action this week (especially for Californians following the gubernatorial race), and our “joyful moments” segment—because even in weeks like this, there are still small, meaningful bright spots. If you’re feeling frustrated, angry, or just trying to make sense of it all, this one’s for you. 👉 Give it a listen, and let us know what resonated: hello@acouplethinks.com👉 And if you haven’t yet, we’d love your thoughts here: survey.acouplethinks.com Get full access to A Couple Thinks at acouplethinks.substack.com/subscribe

    22 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Think along with Lisa and Aaron, as we try to make sense of a messy world—with clarity, compassion, and a dash of humor. acouplethinks.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Lisa & Aaron try to make sense of a messy world
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © A Couple Thinks
  • Show Website
    A Couple Thinks Podcast