In episode 21, the Southern Comfort Podcast crew welcomes, Maria Andrade! A Venezuelan-born political consultant blazing the trail in the American South. From packing her life into two suitcases to founding her firm, Maria shares a riveting story of migration, mentorship, and making space for others. She discusses the challenges of starting over, the nuances of Latino identity in politics, and why she’s betting big on digital. Tune in to hear how community, courage, and creativity are reshaping what leadership looks like below the Mason-Dixon line.

📍01:57 - From Venezuela to Georgia: Maria’s Migration Story
Maria shares her journey immigrating from Venezuela to Aruba to Georgia at just 13, and how her aunt and uncle became her second parents in the U.S.

📍04:27 - Campaigns, Community, and Catching the Political Bug
A college internship throws Maria into her first campaign, where she meets her husband, Rich, and others who help shape her career in politics.

📍11:26 - Starting Her Firm and Filling the Latina Leadership Gap
Maria explains why she stepped into entrepreneurship, the lack of Latina representation in consulting, and the values driving her firm.

📍22:06 - The Power of Digital: Video, Targeting, and Voter Reach
The group discusses the rise of paid and organic digital strategy, why video matters more than ever, and how Maria and Jake keep production in-house.

📍32:14 - Listening Before Labeling: Strategy with Cultural Competency
Maria unpacks why consultants must understand cultural nuance within communities of color—and why lived experience is just as critical as data.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award
This week’s Mamba Mentality Award goes to Maria Andrade for her courage, resilience, and trailblazing example. From stepping into leadership roles she once doubted she could fill, to launching her firm, Maria’s grit and integrity are an inspiration to the next generation of Latina political leaders.

In Part Two of their conversation with political strategist Ebenezer, Rich and Kevin dive deeper into Ebenezer’s journey through campaigns, mentorship, and his rise to Executive Director of the Georgia House Democratic Caucus. They share raw truths about working in politics as Black men, the financial uncertainty of campaign life, and the power of mentorship in sustaining long-term political careers. Ebenezer reflects on pivotal races, personal sacrifices, and his vision for the future of Georgia politics.

📍 00:00 - Jumping Back In & Introducing Ebenezer’s Story
The crew kicks off Part Two by reintroducing Ebenezer, setting the stage for a conversation about his journey, their bond, and the lessons learned on the campaign trail.

📍 02:29 - The Brutality and Intimacy of Local Races
Ebenezer explains the unique challenges of municipal campaigns where personal relationships and whispers can make or break a candidate, compared to statewide or federal races.

📍 10:34 - Mentorship, Sponsorship, and Entering Political Consulting
Kevin and Rich emphasize that political consulting isn’t learned from textbooks but from mentorship, sponsorship, and relationship-building, with Ebenezer crediting them for teaching him the ropes outside of his PWI degree.

📍 22:20 - Surviving Financial Uncertainty in Political Careers
They discuss the instability of campaign income, off-year struggles, and how mentorship helped Ebenezer navigate periods without paychecks while staying committed to political work.

📍 36:17 - From Campaigns to Leading the Georgia House Democratic Caucus
Ebenezer shares his pride in becoming Executive Director, Georgia’s shifting political landscape, the push for Democratic majority by 2026, and why elevating Southern Democrats is key to reframing the party’s brand.

🐍 Mamba Mentality Award
This episode’s Mamba Mentality Award goes to Ebenezer’s father, for his lifelong example of resilience, faith, and leadership that shaped Ebenezer’s commitment to community. Special recognition also to Ebenezer himself, for pushing through financial and professional uncertainty to build a purposeful political career.

Ebenezer Abelarian joins Rich and Kevin to share his journey as a first-generation Nigerian-American navigating faith, family expectations, Black identity, and politics. From growing up between Bankhead and Mableton to pursuing a career his father never imagined, Eb unpacks the cultural, generational, and professional tensions that shaped his path to becoming a political operative in Georgia.

Topics

📍 00:00 – Introducing Ebenezer Abelarian
Rich and Kevin welcome Ebenezer to the show, highlighting their personal and professional ties, mentorship, and shared campaign war stories.

📍 03:33 – Growing Up Nigerian-American in Georgia
Ebenezer discusses his Yoruba heritage, childhood lessons about respect and culture, and the challenges of navigating African and African-American identities.

📍 09:20 – Religion, Expectations, and Early Career Dreams
They unpack how being a pastor’s son and a first-gen child influenced Eb’s sense of duty, his early dreams of becoming a firefighter, SWAT officer, or president, and how anime inspired his hero mindset.

📍 18:12 – Discovering Politics and Defying Family Norms
Ebenezer explains when he realized politics could be a career, his father’s skepticism rooted in Nigeria’s corruption, and why he persisted with his political science major despite expectations of law, medicine, or ministry.

📍 37:08 – From Intern to Political Operative
He details his first volunteer and paid political roles with the Georgia House Democratic Caucus, working campaigns across rural Georgia, and how a quest for Hillary signs led to meeting Rich—launching years of mentorship and opportunities.

🐍 Mamba Mentality Award
Ebenezer gives his Mamba Award to Rich and Kevin for mentoring him as Black men in politics, while Kevin honors Ebenezer’s father for ultimately supporting his son’s dreams despite initial doubts.

Kevin, Rich, and special guest Tamia Booker dive deep into the cracks forming in modern political strategy—from stale consulting playbooks to the rising skepticism among younger voters. This episode is a no-holds-barred conversation on the Democratic Party’s struggle to adapt, the need for fresh blood in political consulting, and the enduring influence (and limitations) of the Obama legacy. Tamia brings her insider experience to dissect why campaigns are falling flat, how identity politics is being weaponized, and what it’ll take to truly connect with the next generation of voters.

Topics

📍 00:01 – Red or Blue? Kevin and Rich Get Real
The episode opens with provocative barbershop talk about whether they’d ever work for a Republican—and what that says about political identity in today’s climate.

📍 07:40 – Is the Obama Era Holding Us Back?
Rich and Kevin revisit a recent article criticizing the continued dominance of Obama-era consultants. They unpack how nostalgia may be stalling innovation and costing the party crucial wins.

📍 14:37 – Tamia Booker on Campaign Consulting Stagnation
Tamia shares firsthand frustrations with the lack of diversity in the consulting class and exposes how recycled strategies are alienating key voter blocs.

📍 22:27 – The South, Strategy, and the Rise of New Voices
The crew explores the political shift in states like Georgia and South Carolina—and asks if emerging operatives in the South will finally get a seat at the national table.

📍 28:18 – Who’s Got Next? The Future of the Party
From Ruben Gallego to the next-gen consultants, they debate who’s got the potential to lead the party forward and whether we’re finally ready to build around authenticity and innovation.

🐍 Mamba Mentality Award Goes To…

🏆 Tamia Booker – For challenging the old guard and amplifying the need for inclusion, innovation, and fearless truth-telling in Democratic strategy. She brought receipts, perspective, and a call to action that can’t be ignored. https://www.tbookerstrategies.com/

Rich and Kevin wrestle with tough questions about political loyalty, authenticity, and the future of Democratic strategy. They dissect the rise of conservative Black voters, the stagnation of the consulting class, and whether new blood can reshape politics before it’s too late. Equal parts confessional and analytical, this episode takes a hard look at what’s working—and what’s not—in the fight for progress.

Topics

📍 00:00 – Would You Ever Work for a Republican?
Rich and Kevin open up about party politics, revealing surprising views on working across the aisle.

📍 04:13 – Black Conservatism in the South
The hosts explore the complex and often contradictory voting patterns among Black voters.

📍 08:40 – The Obama Consultant Monopoly
Kevin critiques the dominance of Obama-era consultants and calls for fresh perspectives in campaign strategy.

📍 17:34 – The Coalition Shift
The conversation turns to how Obama’s winning coalition may now be mirroring Trump’s, with younger voters drifting right.

📍 28:18 – Next-Gen Leadership & Consulting
Rich and Kevin discuss new voices in the Democratic Party and whether real change in campaign strategy is possible.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award Goes To…

🛑 No Award This Week – The fellas agree it’s a quiet moment in the movement. Sometimes you pause to reflect, recharge, and get ready for the next play.

This week, Rich and Kevin blend politics and pop culture like only they can—from the cost of Beyoncé tickets to the cost of losing Black voters. They share wild concert memories, then shift gears into a powerful breakdown of what went wrong for Democrats in 2024. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t just Kamala. The fellas unpack voter apathy, brand erosion, and the myth of demographic inevitability. Insightful, personal, hilarious—and right on time.

Topics

📍 00:01 – Cowboy Carter & Concert Chaos
The guys kick off with tour talk, debating Beyoncé’s ticket prices, Prince’s legacy of free shows, and why Jay-Z doesn’t finish his songs. Plus: who had the better chemistry—Jay & Bey or Jay & JT?

📍 08:14 – Usher, Jeezy & That One Time in Morehouse
Rich and Kevin trade memories of iconic live shows, including Usher’s “homecoming at a strip club” vibes and a smoky backstage moment with Jeezy and Lloyd. Yes, security was high… literally.

📍 13:26 – What Really Sank the Democrats
Rich brings up a Cook Political Report deep-dive into Kamala’s 2024 loss. They dissect turnout data, voter shifts, and why Black men, Latino voters, and new voters drifted—or defected—to Trump.

📍 24:44 – Politics Ain’t the Cowboys
The fellas explore why voters don’t show brand loyalty in politics like they do in sports. Democrats have to earn votes every time—and right now, they're coming up short.

📍 39:38 – The Obama Blueprint is Broken
Kevin and Rich agree: the party needs more than vibes and nostalgia. Coalition building requires infrastructure, cultural competency, and real investment in overlooked communities.

🐍 Mamba Mentality Award Goes To…

🎓 The Class of 2025 – Especially the graduates of HBCUs, who persevered through financial hurdles, administrative chaos, and systemic barriers. Whether it’s Spelman, Morehouse, Howard, or any Black college producing the next wave of thinkers and leaders, the hat tip is yours. You are the legacy—and the future.

This week, Rich and Kevin pull back the curtain on the infighting within the Democratic Party—taking aim at the tension between tradition and transformation. They dig into the rise of David Hogg as DNC Vice Chair, the generational friction in Black political leadership, and the risks of swapping out seats just for the sake of noise. Along the way, they reflect on legacy, personal health, homecomings, and who really should be running things. It’s a raw, real convo about party politics, power, and the cost of progress.

Topics

📍 00:01 – Barbershop Banter & Southern Homecomings
Kevin rocks Spelman gear at his wife’s request while Rich reminisces about escorting Tyra Banks through Morehouse’s chaotic homecoming crowds. They talk HBCU pride, Southern hospitality, and celebrity sightings in ATL.

📍 06:35 – Smoke Season & Sickness
Rich opens up about reclaiming his love for grilling after his health diagnosis—and why his wife’s excitement over BBQ means everything. Kevin talks about being a grill sous chef and why sauce is for amateurs.

📍 10:35 – Blue Flame Politics
The duo dives into Democratic Party infighting, questioning whether new leadership is needed or if the real problem is strategic missteps. Enter: David Hogg, the Parkland survivor-turned-political disruptor.

📍 18:22 – When the CBC Stays Silent
Rich and Kevin break down how the Congressional Black Caucus handles internal challenges—and the quiet blessing that sometimes comes when incumbents lose their edge.

📍 27:48 – Dream Team or Globetrotters?
A fiery debate erupts over whether Hogg’s $20M plan to primary Dems is revolution or self-sabotage. Rich says the squad needs new players—Kevin says the Vice Chair’s job is to win, not to make noise.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award Goes To…

🐍 David Hogg – For refusing to play it safe. Love him or loathe the strategy, Hogg is throwing punches at complacency, risking reputation to challenge power from the inside. Whether it lands or backfires, he's showing the courage to shake the table—and that earns him this week’s Mamba Mentality Award.

In this episode, Rich and Kevin kick things off with backyard grilling talk and reflections on Black college homecomings before diving deep into the Democratic Party’s internal power struggles. They break down the tension between institutional loyalty and insurgent activism, focusing on David Hogg’s controversial push to primary incumbent Democrats from his seat as DNC Vice Chair. From aging leadership and passing the torch to whether the party is better off with Horace Grant or Dennis Rodman, the fellas go in. It’s a no-holds-barred convo about strategy, legacy, and whether the left is fumbling the bag—again.

📍 00:01 Grills, Gear, and Homecoming Nostalgia

Kevin rocks Spellman gear, Rich reminisces about escorting Tyra Banks, and both reflect on the family reunion vibes of Southern HBCU homecomings.

📍 07:00 Health, Ribs, and Seasoning Secrets

Rich shares his return to grilling post-dialysis and shouts out Kevin’s mom’s legendary dry rub ribs. The conversation swerves into food philosophy—sauce vs. skill.

📍 11:10 Democrats Fumbling the Handoff

The hosts revisit recurring Democratic Party flubs—from Gore to Clinton to Harris—and the growing need for new leadership like Wes Moore and Raphael Warnock.

📍 15:00 David Hogg vs. The Establishment

David Hogg’s $20M plan to primary “safe seat” Democrats gets scrutinized. Kevin questions the strategy, while Rich sees merit in disrupting complacency from within.

📍 30:00 When Progressives Go Too Far?

The fellas debate whether a DNC vice chair should also be leading insurgent challenges. Is it bold, necessary reform—or bad politics in disguise?

🐍 Mamba Mentality Award

This week’s award goes to Senator Dick Durbin, for recognizing the need to step aside and make room for the next generation of leaders. Also getting a nod: Everton Sambah, a young school board member and rising political talent, who exemplifies what readiness for change looks like.