In this first episode of Coffee & Tea, host Amber shares who she is, what she believes, and why she started this podcast.

Amber lives in Texas, in a rural community where politics can feel especially polarizing. Like many people, she’s exhausted by the shouting matches, the stereotypes, and the way we stop seeing each other as humans the moment we disagree.

She knows a lot of progressives who have disconnected from conservatives entirely. And she understands why—sometimes that’s the only way to stay safe and sane. But for Amber, that’s not logistically possible. Her neighbors, coworkers, and community are mostly conservative. She can’t avoid them, and honestly, she doesn’t want to. She wants to try something different.

This episode sets the table for what comes next: real conversations about why people believe what they do, without debating, shaming, or trying to “win.” It’s about understanding, not endorsing. It’s about holding space for honesty and accountability at the same time.

Amber is clear that this isn’t work she expects marginalized communities to do. If you are white, liberal, and otherwise not marginalized, she believes this is our homework. The systems we live in were built to benefit people who look like us, and if we want that to change, we can’t keep outsourcing the work of bridge-building to those most harmed by those systems.

She is not endorsing the beliefs other guests will share. She is not pretending that ignorance doesn’t cause harm or that good intentions erase real consequences. But she also believes that if we don’t stay in the room long enough to meet people in their ignorance—and walk them through their hate to the point of understanding why those ideologies are so harmful to everyone, including themselves—nothing ever changes.

Her hope isn’t necessarily to change people’s minds, although that would be wonderful. Her goal is simpler, and maybe harder: to hear someone’s perspective without assuming the worst about them as a person. To model what it looks like to share honestly, to sit with discomfort, and to remember that most of us were shaped by things we didn’t choose.

If you’re curious, skeptical, hopeful, or some combination of all three, Amber is glad you’re here. This is just the beginning, and she believes there’s room at the table for all of us—even when it feels impossible.

Thank you for listening.

Learn more or get involved: littlebluetexans.com/podcast

In this introduction, Amber shares what inspired her to create Coffee & Tea—a podcast dedicated to real people explaining why they believe what they do, without debating, shaming, or trying to win an argument.

After witnessing the Texas flood and feeling the deep polarization on her own doorstep, Amber realized how much she wanted something different. As a Democrat living in a conservative state, she knows what it feels like to be in the political minority. She also acknowledges the privilege she carries as a straight, married white woman—privilege that allows her to move through these conversations with a level of safety that many marginalized people don’t have.

This show is about creating a space to talk honestly about politics without ignoring the harm certain policies cause. Amber wants to be clear that while she recognizes harm exists on all sides of the political spectrum, she doesn’t believe the impact of Democrats and Republicans is the same, but we're sitting down to talk anyways.

Each episode, guests will share why they hold their beliefs, followed by relevant statistics and facts about the real-world consequences of those policies. After hearing the data, participants will be asked whether they still feel the same, whether they feel inclined to reconsider, or whether they need more time to reflect—conversations that will continue in future episodes.

Amber is tired of the constant trolling, dunking, and cruelty that have become hallmarks of modern political dialogue. She knows some people are genuinely awful, and others are simply misinformed—on both sides. But she also knows there are people with hearts of gold everywhere, and she’s interested in the humanity that still exists underneath all the noise.

This podcast isn’t about pretending that all beliefs are equally harmless or that there are no lines worth defending. It’s about remembering that behind every viewpoint is a story, a life experience, and often a genuine desire to do what’s right.

At the end of each season, Amber will reflect on the conversations she’s had, how her own thinking has changed, and what she hopes listeners will carry forward into their own lives.

If you’re exhausted by the shouting matches and want to hear something more human, Coffee & Tea invites you to pour a cup, take a seat, and listen in.