Sticky Note Conversations

A special crossover episode of Talking While Black and Sticky Note Conversations! Hosts Derek Washington and Erika Washington sit down with Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17) for a wide-ranging conversation about the Democratic Party's identity crisis, taxing billionaires, AI's threat to Black communities, autonomous vehicles replacing workers, the Gaza genocide, the Epstein files, and what the American dream looks like in 2026. Plus, Derek tries to get a 2028 presidential announcement out of him. Produced by Erika Washington. Edited by Black Gypsy LLC. Special thanks to KUNV 91.5. Powered by Make It Work Nevada, a project of Beyond Impact.

Show Notes:
  • (00:00) - Show Cold Open
  • (00:54) - Crossover Banter Begins
  • (01:26) - Sitcom Character Draft
  • (02:27) - Quick Top Stories
  • (02:36) - Dating Health Warning
  • (03:37) - Lindsey Graham Doc Talk
  • (04:57) - Vivek Ad Controversy
  • (08:25) - Introducing Ro Khanna
  • (10:45) - 2028 Tease and First Question
  • (11:56) - What It Means to Be Democrat
  • (15:46) - Taxing Billionaires Debate
  • (19:48) - Defining Middle and Working Class
  • (21:42) - Automation Threats and New Deal
  • (24:38) - Data Centers vs Small Business
  • (25:51) - Why Tech Elites Feel Detached
  • (28:09) - New Generation in Politics
  • (29:39) - Autonomous Vehicles and Jobs
  • (32:24) - Economic Patriotism and Books
  • (34:14) - AI Bias and Black Inclusion
  • (37:26) - Local Power and Federal Resources
  • (41:34) - Gaza Stance and Party Leadership
  • (44:37) - Epstein Files and Accountability
  • (47:54) - Living Wage and Real Deliverables
  • (49:16) - Defining the American Dream
  • (51:40) - Wrap Up and Credits
Guest Bio:

Congressman Ro Khanna represents California's 17th Congressional District in Silicon Valley. He served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce under President Obama. He is the author of two books: Entrepreneurial Nation: Why Manufacturing Matters in America and Dignity in a Digital Age: The Fortunes and Risks of Living in a Digital Age (published in paperback as Progressive Capitalism).

Hosts:

Derek Washington — Talking While Black
Erika Washington — Sticky Note Conversations
Credits

  • Produced by Erika Washington
  • Edited by Black Gypsy LLC
  • Special thanks to KUNV 91.5
  • Powered by Make It Work Nevada, a project of Beyond Impact
Connect:

  • Follow Talking While Black across all streaming platforms
  • Follow Sticky Note Conversations on KUNV 91.5 and all streaming platforms
 

Creators and Guests

Producer
Erika Washington
Composer
Wil Black

What is Sticky Note Conversations?

To keep my thoughts in order and my to-do lists remotely manageable I create arrays of sticky notes on my desk and wall. New idea? Stick note! Someone I want to meet with? Sticky Note! Need to remember to pay a parking ticket? Write it on a sticky note. Over the course of the last year, I have wanted to create a podcast that allowed me to dive deep into conversations with interesting people.. I wanted to have real conversations that were more than sound bites or regurgitated talking points about fluffy topics. My hope is that each episode feels like old friends catching up. Revealing great information but also humanity, struggle, victory, joy, grief, and possibly, a flicker of transcendence.

I hope you will enjoy these as much as I do creating them.
Join me here every Saturday as I pull a new sticky note off my desk.