Overcoming Stigmas and Embracing Identity with Amanda Swope

Former Oklahoma House District 71 Representative Amanda Swope, now Director of Tribal Policy and Partnerships for the City of Tulsa, to discuss being raised in a family impacted by a young parent and growing through related stigmas. Swope shares her upbringing in East Tulsa after her parents divorced, frequent school changes, and how her family relied on WIC, SNAP, Section 8, free and reduced lunch, tribal support, and GI Bill benefits. She explains how those experiences shaped her interest in social psychology, policy, and mediation, and describes how therapy helps her manage stress, build boundaries, and reframe family dynamics. The conversation also covers making politics more digestible, civic engagement, the idea that public offices should be accessible to all, and a need for a school for teen mothers with childcare in Tulsa.