We've Got To Talk

We've Got To Talk

Nicole Fonarow and Jolene Conway

Episodes 71
Avg. Duration 45m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.8 (26)
Since Feb 2025
Latest Episode Jun 2026

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Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
100%
Hosting
feeds.captivate.fm

About This Podcast

Our story begins in the halls of the University of Iowa, go Hawks! It was there that two seemingly different paths intersected and a friendship blossomed. Despite our different upbringings—Jolene in little Pleasantville, Iowa, and me, Nicole, just across the Golden Gate Bridge in the bustling Bay Area—we became fast friends. And here we are, almost 40 years later, living in a world that often seems intent on drawing lines in the sand and choosing sides. So why "We've Got To Talk"? Because we truly believe that in this deeply divided society, the power of conversation can unite us. Our goal isn't to change each other's opinions, but to listen with curiosity, kindness, and empathy. And yes, to have a good time while doing it! We invite you to join us on this journey and bring your friends along. We might not have all the answers or any of them—but we promise honesty, empathy, and a lot of heart. We hope our conversations give you a fresh outlook or at least entertain you as you go about your day.

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Recent Episodes

Is Minimum Wage the Real Problem with Tipping Culture?

Jun 10, 2026 49m Transcript

Tipping culture in the USA is out of control right now. In this episode, we dig into the history of tipping in America, why it became normal for customers to subsidize wages, and how the USA minimum…

Trump’s Tax Letter & The 1776 Fund: Republican vs Democrat

Jun 03, 2026 38m Transcript

In this episode, we tackle the shocking details behind Donald Trump’s latest legal maneuver. Nicole and Jolene break down why Trump suddenly dropped his massive $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS…

“Bashing Trump” vs “Sanewashing Trump”: An Interview with Issac Saul of Tangle News

May 27, 2026 42m Transcript

What happens when you try to tell the truth in a world that only wants team loyalty? In this episode, we talk with Isaac Saul, founder of Tangle, the independent, non-partisan politics newsletter…

How Postpartum Medicaid Went From 60 Days to a Year in Wisconsin

May 20, 2026 46m Transcript

Fourteen Wisconsinites from opposite sides of the abortion debate sat down together for a three-day Builders Movement Citizen Solutions session on abortion and family wellbeing. This wasn’t a panel…

Builders, Not Dividers: Voting for Character Over Party

May 13, 2026 55m Transcript

In a world that rewards outrage, it can feel safer to avoid politics, religion, and money altogether. But the silence doesn’t fix anything, it just pushes the tension into Facebook fights, family…

“Us vs Them” Has Taken Over American Politics

May 06, 2026 33m Transcript

Politics has started to feel like a loyalty test, not a conversation. Say one thing that is not perfectly on script for your “side” and people act like you have betrayed the whole team. The problem…

What is a Sanctuary City and how do they work?

Apr 29, 2026 46m Transcript

Sanctuary cities are one of those topics that instantly makes people get their haunches up ready to “defend their side.” It’s either a lawless open border or a necessary humanitarian shield. But the…

Is AI Progress or Poison?

Apr 22, 2026 45m Transcript

AI is one of those topics that makes people speak in absolutes: it’s either going to save us or destroy us. But the truth is simpler (and scarier): AI is already everywhere. It’s in your phone, your…

Republican vs Democrat Views of Trump: What the Beyond MAGA Report Reveals

Apr 15, 2026 36m Transcript

In this episode, we dig into the “Beyond MAGA” report from More in Common and why it matters heading into the November midterms. If you spend any time online, you would think Trump voters are one…

This NYC Protest Shocked Us: “Death to America” and What It Means

Apr 08, 2026 39m Transcript

We’re taking on one of the hardest questions in public life right now: where is the line between free speech, hate speech, and political extremism? What started as a reaction to protest footage from…

Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban vs. US Bell-to-Bell Phone Bans in Schools

Apr 01, 2026 41m Transcript

Two big stories have been sitting with us. Australia moving to ban social media for kids under 16, and U.S. schools rolling out “bell to bell” phone bans. Australia’s move is bold, and we don’t think…

The Epstein Files and the elite with no accountability

Mar 25, 2026 41m Transcript

The Epstein files are not just a scandal or a “true crime” story. They are a mirror held up to power, privilege, and the way exploitation can hide in plain sight when the right people are involved.We…

Trump’s SAVE Act Explained: Election Integrity or Voter Suppression

Mar 18, 2026 44m Transcript

Trump’s SAVE Act is being sold as a straightforward push for election integrity, but in this episode, we take a look at why it is not nearly that simple. On the surface, secure elections sound like…

Iran Conflict: What Happens When "You Break It, You Buy It" Applies to War?

Mar 11, 2026 43m Transcript

Iran is one of the most loaded topics on the planet right now, and in this episode, Nicole (liberal) and Jolene (conservative) try to talk about it without pretending it’s simple. We recorded on…

The Death of Political Decorum: Pam Bondi, JD Vance, and Why We're All Exhausted

Mar 04, 2026 31m Transcript

Politics lately feels less like governing and more like bad behavior. In this episode, we ask a simple question: where did basic political decorum go, and why does it feel like the whole country is…

Bridge Grades: The ‘Rotten Tomatoes’ Scorecard for Congress

Feb 25, 2026 58m Transcript

We’re sitting down with Brad Porteus, the creator of Bridge Grades, to talk about the one thing American politics is starving for right now: real collaboration. If you are exhausted by tribal “pick a…

The Last Republican Documentary: Our Review

Feb 18, 2026 50m Transcript

We just watched “The Last Republican,” Steve Pink’s new documentary about Adam Kinzinger - the Illinois Congressman who broke ranks with his party after the January 6th hearings, and let’s just say,…

Trump One Year Later: Reaction to Ezra Klein & Yuval Levin Conversation

Feb 11, 2026 41m Transcript

We’re sharing our take on Ezra Klein’s interview with Yuval Levin and the question it raises about Trump’s presidency: has he achieved as much as it feels like he has, or are we confusing constant…

ICE Shooting in Minneapolis: Facts, Fear, and What We Owe Each Other

Feb 04, 2026 1h 5m Transcript

Some weeks, the news doesn’t just feel heavy, it feels combustible. In this episode, Nicole (liberal) and Jolene (conservative) talk through the latest ICE shooting in Minneapolis and why stories…

Is America buying Greenland or not?

Jan 28, 2026 46m Transcript

Some headlines don’t feel real and yet here we are. In this episode, we unpack Trump floating the idea of America buying Greenland (yes, Greenland) and why a story that sounds like satire is actually…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does We've Got To Talk have?

We've Got To Talk has published 71 episodes since February 2025, covering topics in News, Personal Journals.

Is We've Got To Talk still active?

We've Got To Talk is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 45m.

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