Episode 67: Thank You, Next
Guest: Sarah Blessing - Co-founder, Project Next Media
Full show notes at https://hoosleft.us/
https://projectnext.substack.com/
Welcome to the HoosLeft Podcast, a show about Indiana politics, history, and culture from the unapologetic perspective of the social democratic left. My name is Scott Aaron Rogers, I’m recording from Bloomington, and when I began this endeavor I didn’t think it would evolve into an Ariana Grande fan podcast, but here we are.
After raving about the movie Wicked, and her performance in it - for which she just earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress - a few weeks back, I turn back to pop icon to open this episode.
In her hit song “Thank U, Next,” Ariana Grande transforms personal adversity into an anthem of gratitude and growth. It is a powerful reminder that even our most difficult experiences can teach us something valuable and push us toward becoming a stronger version of ourselves. This theme is universal, and it resonates just as deeply in the context of setbacks in professional or public life as it does in personal relationships.
Losing an election—or experiencing any kind of public defeat (and a celebrity breakup is very much a public defeat)—can feel like an abrupt and disheartening end. But in reality, such moments are often the beginning of a new chapter, filled with opportunities for reflection and reinvention. Every loss carries lessons—about communication, resilience, and, perhaps most importantly, about the individual’s own strengths and values. Just as Grande reflects on the ways her relationships shaped her, those who experience a setback can use it as a chance to recalibrate, grow, and better understand our unique purpose.
Setbacks are often a precursor to future success. Leaders across industries and disciplines have encountered roadblocks that ultimately prepared them for their defining achievements. A loss isn’t the end of a journey; it’s a turning point, a moment to reassess goals and explore new territory. For some, this might mean returning with renewed focus to the same endeavor, while for others it could spark a fresh direction that’s even more impactful than the original goal.
What matters most is the mindset after the loss. Embracing the lessons, seeking feedback, and taking time to realign with core values ensures that the setback becomes a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block. Grande’s message of turning pain into progress captures this perfectly—there’s power in pausing to say “thank you” to an experience, even one that didn’t go as planned, and then confidently moving on to what’s next.
Dr. Tim Peck ran for Congress in my district - Indiana-09 - and though he put in a tremendous amount of work, and tens of thousands of miles on his truck, incumbent Republican Erin Houchin easily repelled his challenge, winning reelection by a nearly 2:1 margin. Likewise, Sarah Blessing took on entrenched GOP state representative Karen Engleman in District 70, only to lose by an even greater margin.
In an especially toxic environment, both could have retreated from public view in the wake of their defeats. Yet, moved by those countless heartfelt, one-on-one conversations with their neighbors on the campaign trail, they’re leaning in - continuing those discussions, pursuing common ground, refusing to give up on democracy.
They’ve launched a new media venture called Project Next, that aims to keep building bridges to our neighbors - with whom we largely agree on most issues. They reject the simple red/blue dynamic meant to divide us and embrace a healthy, inclusive populism.
In this conversation, Sarah joins me to talk about the circumstances that led her and Tim to found Project Next, their plans for the immediate future, and their vision going forward. I’ve been helping them around the edges, and am proud to publicly announce my participation in this project, which officially launches with a kick-off telethon Tuesday, January 28 from 5-10pm.
Before we turn to the interview, I want to thank all of you for your support for this project, especially those who have made the leap with a paid subscription. Your contributions have helped me make meaningful connections with fascinating people like Sarah from all over Indiana, and beyond. We are building a network of Hoosiers dedicated to making this state, and its government, work for all of us, not just the wealthy and connected few.
Now, I work as a handyman/contractor to pay the bills and work on this project when I can. I have so much more to give you, this community, and Indiana’s future. My body and my brain would both prefer if we could afford to direct more of our energies here, but for that I need you. All I’m asking is $5 a month, or $50 a year, to help me write more, research more, organize more, and keep improving HoosLeft.
With that, it’s now a lot easier to find us. Visit HoosLeft.US for all of our articles, episodes, archives, and that sweet, sweet SUBSCRIBE button. We’re also on Facebook, Bluesky, YouTube, and TikTok at HoosLeft. Given the proclivities of the tech oligarchs, I’m reevaluating where I want to concentrate my social media presence. But until I figure all that out, I’m still on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter at scottrog78 and scottrog78@hoosier.social on Mastodon. Share on whatever social media platforms you use. Invite others. Leave reviews and feedback. Please, help me radicalize Indiana. Thanks again.
Now, here is my dear friend, Sarah Blessing.
Cited in the Interview
Sarah’s First HoosLeft Appearance: https://scottaaronrogers.substack.com/p/episode-50-securing-the-border-between
HoosLeft at Corydon Women’s March: https://scottaaronrogers.substack.com/p/episode-59-were-not-going-back
Corinne Straight on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@corinnestraight
Sarah’s 2024 Election Results: https://www.usatoday.com/elections/results/2024-11-05/race/15400/indiana
Sarah Talks About Her Cancer Scare: https://youtu.be/IYPwChLqu4U
About Thyroid Cancer: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/thyroid-cancer/about/what-is-thyroid-cancer.html
Talking to Kids About Disease & Death: https://deathwithdignity.org/news/2023/09/how-and-when-we-talk-to-children/
Embarrassing Stories Episode: https://youtu.be/tgky6079RSE
Dr. Peck on HoosLeft: https://scottaaronrogers.substack.com/p/episode-58-a-doctor-in-the-house
Americans Tuning Out on Political News: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/26/two-thirds-of-us-adults-tuning-out-political-news-poll-finds
Democrats Appearing More on Conservative Media: https://www.axios.com/2024/12/24/democrats-conservative-media-appearances-fox
Is Democratic Brand Toxic?: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/29/democrats-running-independent-toxic-brand-001832
Local News Deserts: https://www.medill.northwestern.edu/news/2024/medill-report-shows-local-news-deserts-expanding.html
Many Hoosiers Get Local News From Chicago, Louisville: https://circlecitybroadcasting.com/blog/wish-tv-adds-fort-wayne-s-wlmo-to-statewide-indiana-news-network
Most Americans Hold Liberal Positions on the Issues: https://prospect.org/power/americans-liberal-even-know/
Local Media’s Right-Wing Bias: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/media-consolidation-means-less-local-news-more-right-wing-slant
Project Next Episode on Local Schools: https://youtu.be/RgsGPtOZQHA
Deadly Harvest Homecoming Shooting: https://www.wlky.com/article/harvest-homecoming-arrests-new-albany-indiana/62943135
Permitless Carry in Indiana: https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/how-indianas-permitless-carry-law-could-impact-gun-violence
“Now Isn’t the Time”: https://progressive.org/op-eds/the-deep-disrespect-of-now-is-not-the-time-for-gun-control-leland-190705/
Recent Nashville School Shooting: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/antioch-high-school-shooting-tennessee/
Gun Suicide Among Men: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4984734/
Palmyra Sav-a-Step: https://www.facebook.com/p/Sav-A-step-41-PALMYRA-100063632227133/
Talking to Strangers Improves Mental Health: https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2023-01-03/why-talking-to-strangers-is-good-for-your-mental-health-group-therapy
Meet As Strangers, Leave As Friends: https://youtu.be/QfWgKZzsuMc
Project Next Kickoff Telethon: https://www.facebook.com/events/1352407009451797
Jamie Noel Controversy: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/crime/2024/12/30/what-happened-to-former-clark-county-indiana-sheriff-jamey-noel/77066004007/
Telethon Guests:
Shawn Bostock: https://www.facebook.com/p/Integrity-and-Accountability-with-Shawn-Bostock-61556092350420/
Dan Canon: https://www.dancanonlaw.com/
Elmer Ramos: https://www.heyelmer.com/
Senior Paws Rescue: https://www.seniorpawsrescue.org/About-Us
Ethan Legg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-legg-b5698760/
Michelle Higgs & Indiana Rural Summit: https://voteformichellehiggs.com/RuralSummitPressRelease
Snow Blankets US South: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c391jmgmev4o
Did Meta Make People Follow Trump/Vance?: https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/facebook-instagram-users-forced-trump-vance-follow-1236282155/
Actually, The Left is Censored on Social Media: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/elon-musk-twitter-censor-left-accounts-rcna59638
Crooked Media, Pod Save America: https://crooked.com/
Dax Shepherd, Armchair Expert: https://armchairexpertpod.com/
Once again, that was Sarah Blessing, former Democratic candidate for Indiana Statehouse and co-founder of the new Project Next Media.
Let me tell you a little bit about why I’m excited to collaborate with Project Next, besides the incredible people I get to work with. Here at HoosLeft, I am unapologetically political, flagrantly partisan (though I direct my ire at Democrats nearly as often as Republicans), and highly combative. With Project Next, I am challenged to lean in, find common ground, and cultivate relationships with people whom I do not necessarily agree on all the issues.
I’m not going soft on you. I’m not turning into a squishy moderate. My social democratic values remain the foundation of all I do, and this venue serves as a parallel track for moving these principles into the local discourse.
I remember the 2007 cookbook, Deceptively Delicious, penned by comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s wife, Jessica. In it, she talks about her struggle getting the couple’s young children to eat their vegetables and how she came up with a technique to stealthily sneak veggies into recipes even the pickiest kids would devour. She snuck butternut squash into macaroni & cheese, spinach and carrot purees into brownies, and sweet potatoes into donuts.
I look at the conversations we will have on Project Next as an opportunity to inject class politics into nominally non-partisan discourse, to add some nourishing socialism to our metaphorical plate. Maybe I can’t get folks to drink a big glass of Marxism, but I’m sure gonna spike the punch.
Thanks again to my friend Sarah Blessing and thank you for listening. Check us out on the Project Next Kickoff Show from 5-10pm on Tuesday, January 28, and please consider a contribution if you can. Also, if you’re able, head over to HoosLeft.US and help support this project with a paid subscription. Thats’s where you’ll find everything I publish, but you can also find me on Facebook, Bluesky, YouTube and TikTok at hoosleft and on most other social media sites at scottrog78. My DMs are open for feedback, tips, ideas, and concerns. You can also email me at scott@hoosleft.us. Forward the show to a friend and have them to forward it to another friend. Let’s keep building this project - and truly democratic state. Until next time, this has been the HoosLeft podcast. I’m Scott Aaron Rogers. Love each other, Indiana.
Project Next on Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568707892196
https://www.youtube.com/@projectnextmovement
https://www.instagram.com/stories/projectnextmovement/
https://bsky.app/profile/projectnext.bsky.social
https://www.tiktok.com/@projectnextmedia
https://www.twitch.tv/projectnextmedia
https://projectnext.substack.com/
HoosLeft on Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/hoosleft
https://www.youtube.com/@hoosleft
https://www.tiktok.com/@hoosleft
https://www.instagram.com/scottrog78/
https://www.threads.net/@scottrog78
https://hoosier.social/@scottrog78
And once again, subscribe at:
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