This week the Good News Gals cover the story of 6 Tongan teens who find themselves stranded on an uninhabited island 56 years ago.

The result is anything but the storyline you may remember from Lord of the Flies. 

Join us as we follow a true survival story through the struggle but ending with joy.

To learn more about these incredible humans check out some of our sources! 

Six Tongan Castaways in Ata Island | OLD DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL 7

Tongan Culture

A real life Lord of the Flies: The 50-year-old story of a group of teens stranded on an island - Correspondent Holly Williams

“Rutger Bregman: the Dutch historian who rocked Davos and unearthed the real Lord of the Flies”

“The 'real Lord of the Flies': a survivor's story of shipwreck and salvation” 

The real Lord of the Flies: what happened when six boys were shipwrecked for 15 months

The Tongan Castaways of Ata Island | Surviving with one of the six boys

Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman

"This is really old theory in Western culture, that our civilization is just a thin veneer, just a thin layer. And that when something bad happens—say there is a natural disaster or you shipwreck on an island and you have the freedom to establish your own society—that people reveal who they really are. You know, people deep down are just selfish."

This week Good News Gals Emily and Morgan cover Dr. Carolyn Finney.

Green spaces offer benefits to our physical, mental, and social health, but they aren’t experienced or accessed equally. As a teacher, storyteller, and “accidental environmentalist,” Dr. Carolyn Finney asks us to join her in reckoning with the question of “which public” our outdoor spaces serve and how we can collectively re-create these spaces for everyone. 

Carolyn argues that we cannot control the skin we are born in and so whiteness is no worse than blackness or brownness BUT the way that whiteness has been weaponized and systemically given power is where it becomes problematic. 

To learn more:

Black Faces White Spaces by Carolyn Finney

TEDx : Whose Story Counts?

Melanin Base Camp Guide to Outdoor Allyship

**Disclaimer** This episode was recorded a week prior and thus does not address the murder of Daunte Wright during the conversation about police traffic stops. 

“I have a Ph.D. of being poor, hungry, and determined. And I think when you’ve experienced those three things, there’s a lot of wisdom. When you’ve been poor, there’s so much innovation that comes out of that.” - Richard Montanez

Today, Morgan and Emily share the life story of the brilliant and resilient mind that invented flamin' hot Cheetos! Richard Montanez did not thrive in a traditional educational setting. Instead, Richard has learned from experience and necessity.

Join us to learn about the joys and struggles of someone brave, kind, and doing the work that needs to be done.

The Good News Gals discuss the necessity of high level ethical decision making. 

Join us to learn about Thiokol scientist Allan McDonald who worked in conjunction with the Challenger Rocket and later developed booster rockets that astronauts considered the safest part of the spacecraft. 

Al McDonald took a courageous stand to make certain the truth was heard regardless of personal ramifications.

Stand up for what you know is right and you will stand on the side of justice. 

Support this Podcast!

In this bonus episode, Emily and Morgan share nuggets of Good News! 

To hear more of these Good News Nuggets, check out our Patreon.

Join us to hear about the triumphs of the human spirit. 

This week the Good News Gals close the epic saga of Harriet Tubman. Sharing the last installment of her story feels like a great way to introduce Women’s History Month! Harriet was a disabled Black woman who made such an impact on history part of her story actually made it into our history books. 

This episode explores her life after the Underground Railroad. These years of her life were filled with heroic leadership, cunning, deep empathy, and a persistent spirit. Harriet supported people in need. Harriet led us in battle in the civil war (the first woman to do so) and took care of the elderly when the government did not. She was active in women’s rights, speaking to empower Black women to build and share their power.

Our government and our people repeatedly failed Harriet but she never gave up on herself. She persisted and she did not give in when the world was pressing upon her with a stifling weight. 

Morgan and Emily also discussed:

• Scams - Everyone has been scammed and we should make it common practice to talk about our experiences. Speaking of these experiences helps those around us and removes their connections to feelings of shame. 
• Stress and the impact of stress (due to our skewed socioeconomic, racist, classist system) on life expectancy. 

This week Morgan and Emily continue the Saga of Harriet Tubman. 

Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross) was the 5th of 9 children. She was known as Minty. 

Join us to learn about her life from birth to the election of Abraham Lincoln (just after her final trip on the Underground Railroad). 

Join Emily and Morgan for an immersive experience. The Gals explore the journey of the Underground Railroad lead by its most famous conductor: Harriet Tubman.