Renee & Susan reflect on the beginning of a new(ish) year, and the ideas and thoughts they want to bring into 2026. We kick off the new year not with rigid resolutions, but with honesty, compassion, and intention. As they enter their fifth year of podcasting, Renee and Susan acknowledge that January doesn't always feel like a fresh start—especially amid relentless bad news, family pressures, and the emotional weight carried by so many everyday advocates.

Instead of traditional New Year's resolutions, the hosts explore the power of mantras: simple truths we can return to when motivation is low and hope feels fragile. Renee shares her personal mantra, "I am capable," reflecting on identity, self-worth, stay-at-home parenting, and reentering the workforce. Susan offers her own grounding reminder, "You're enough", and reframes survival, care work, and showing up imperfectly as meaningful and valuable.

The conversation then turns outward, as Susan calls on advocates to recognize their collective power, especially at the local level. From school boards to county commissioners to the North Carolina General Assembly, this episode emphasizes why community action still matters and why special education advocacy must be front and center in 2025. The hosts discuss proven policy solutions, fair pay and training for educators and instructional assistants, and the urgent need to fully implement Leandro recommendations.

In true Advocacy Bites fashion, Renee balances hope with sharp accountability, offering a blunt New Year's wish for legislators: give a damn. The episode closes with concrete opportunities to take action, including upcoming public education demonstrations, teacher-led walkouts, and simple ways to practice showing up in community, even when it feels hard.

🎧 In this episode, you'll hear about:

Choosing mantras over resolutions
Advocacy burnout, grief, and showing yourself grace
Identity, caregiving, and self-worth
Reclaiming personal and collective power
Special education funding and policy solutions
Leandro, public school funding, and educator support
Practical ways to get involved locally in 2025

(02:18) - Choosing a Mantra: I Am Capable

(06:15) - New Year's Resolutions and Social Media

(07:53) - Empowering Advocates in Education

(12:23) - Legislative Resolutions and Advocacy

(15:46) - Hope and Action: Upcoming Events

(20:31) - Conclusion and Call to Action