American Motherhood

In this episode of American Motherhood, we sit down with Shelby Kimball, a mom of four, Marine Corps and Army National Guard veteran, and the Democratic candidate running to represent Ohio House District 60 in Delaware County, to talk about the issues that matter to Ohio families. We dig into her priorities for the state, including strong public schools, affordable and accessible healthcare, and s...

In this episode of American Motherhood, we sit down with Jerrad Christian, the Democratic candidate running to represent Ohio's 12th Congressional District, to talk about the issues that matter to Ohio families. With rural, suburban, and urban communities side by side, District 12 represents so much of Ohio's diversity all in one place, and serving it means balancing very different needs....

In this episode of American Motherhood, we sit down with Daquan Neal, the Democratic candidate running to represent Ohio House District 39 in Montgomery County, to talk about the issues that matter to Ohio families. We dig into his priorities for the state, including a livable wage, universal free school lunch, and how tax policy affects working families. Daquan brings high energy to every part of...

In this episode of American Motherhood, we sit down with Noah Spinner, the Democratic candidate running to represent Ohio House District 31 in Summit County, to talk about the issues that matter to Ohio families. We dig into his priorities for the state, including healthcare, public schools, and bringing affordability back to working families. Noah also shares how his own personal journey has shap...

In this episode of American Motherhood, we sit down with Don Kissick, the Libertarian candidate for Ohio governor, for a thoughtful and respectful discussion of his vision for the state. We dig into what limited government would really look like for families, including his belief that a robust economy would allow communities to rely on private charity rather than government programs. We also talk...

In this episode of American Motherhood, we sit down with Judge Marilyn Zayas, who's running for one of two seats on the Ohio Supreme Court. We cover how the Ohio Supreme Court touches everyday family life, where the line falls between interpreting the law and making policy, setting aside personal opinion to follow the law, party labels on judicial ballots, and what the court can do when the le...

In this episode of American Motherhood, we sit down with Rose Lounsbury, who's running to represent Ohio House District 36, to talk about the issues that matter to Ohio families. We dig into her priorities for the state, including how she'd approach education funding, how to balance gun rights with public safety, and how to protect women's rights and everyone's access to affordable...

In this episode of American Motherhood, we sit down with Samantha Salamon, who is running to represent Ohio House District 35, to talk about the issues that matter most to Ohio families. We cover the top concerns for families, including affordability, public education, property taxes, and how our legislature can create change for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence. Above all, this...

In this episode of American Motherhood, we sit down with Don Leonard, Democratic candidate for Ohio’s 15th Congressional District, to discuss the issues affecting Ohio families and his priorities for the district and the state. We ask him about affordability and the challenges facing families today, including housing, healthcare, childcare, and the unique pressures facing the sandwich generation....

In this episode of American Motherhood, we sit down with Mr. Cleophus Dulaney, Republican candidate for Ohio’s Third Congressional District, to discuss the issues affecting Ohio families and his priorities for the district and the state. We asked him about affordable housing, property taxes, education, his vision for Ohio, and the kind of leader he would be. Our goal isn’t to tell you who to vote...

What does bipartisanship actually look like at the Ohio Statehouse, and why should Ohio families care? In this episode of American Motherhood, we sit down with Senator Louis Blessing, a Republican member of the Ohio Senate representing the 8th District, to talk about what happens when lawmakers look beyond party labels and work toward common ground. We discuss how much collaboration really happens...

Before we sit down with Ohio's candidates, we wanted to better understand the campaigns behind them. At American Motherhood, we believe civic engagement starts with curiosity. Who actually runs a political campaign? What rules do campaigns operate under? And how can busy parents meaningfully support the leaders they believe in? In this episode, Bethany and guest co-host Hayley are joined by Lo...

Most of us don't think about family leave until we suddenly need it, and by then it's too late to plan. For millions of Ohio workers, that moment of need is met with an uncomfortable truth: your job may be protected, but your paycheck is not. In this episode, Bethany sits down with Senator Dr. Beth Liston, physician, legislator, and mother, to talk about Ohio Senate Bill 369, a proposed pa...

In the final episode of American Motherhood: Schoolhouse Edition , Yana Doughty closes the series with a focused look at how strong communities are built through powerful partnerships, as illustrated between the Ohio City of Westerville and Westerville City Schools. Our guest, Monica Dupee, Westerville City Manager, shares how city leadership and the school district work together to support famili...

In this episode of the Schoolhouse Series from American Motherhood, Yana is joined by Steve Osborne for a conversation about how public school budgets actually work. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in school finance, Osborne explains how district budgets are structured, where funding is allocated, and what drives rising costs in areas such as instruction, transportation, special educat...

Bridging the Gap: Motherhood and Civic Life is a live panel conversation from American Motherhood exploring how moms navigate the intersection of parenting and public life. In this special episode, panelists Kimberly Blair, Jamille Jones, Kelley Stocker, and Kristin Sutton , alongside moderator, Ohio House Representative Beryl Brown Piccolantonio , reflect on what it means to stay engaged in civic...

Welcome back to the Schoolhouse Series with American Motherhood. In this episode, Yana is joined by former Ohio legislator and longtime education policy expert, Stephen Dyer, to break down what “fair school funding” really means. Stephen cuts through the noise to explain the difference between equity and equality, why students cost different amounts to educate, and how Ohio’s Fair School Funding P...

In this episode of The Schoolhouse Series , we sit down with Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano to better understand one of the most debated issues in our community: property taxes. We break down how property values are determined, what a property tax bill actually represents, and how those dollars are distributed. We also explain why rising home values do not automatically translate into i...

In this episode of American Motherhood , we’re joined by Dr. Christina Collins, Founder and Executive Director of Honesty for Ohio Education, a nonprofit organization focused on bringing clarity and transparency to how Ohio schools are funded. Dr. Collins offers thoughtful, grounded insight into how Ohio’s school funding system impacts real classrooms and communities, while addressing how culture...

Welcome to the  American Motherhood Schoolhouse Series,  where we break down Ohio's public school funding into clear, real-life conversations for busy moms. In this first episode, we start with the question behind nearly every school debate:  Who actually pays for public schools?  We explore where school funding comes from (hint: mostly local), why your property taxes are tied to schools, why...

The decisions shaping your family’s future aren’t just happening in DC - they’re happening right here in Ohio. In this episode of American Motherhood , I’m joined by Allison Russo, Ohio House Representative and candidate for Ohio Secretary of State, to talk about what’s really at stake for families in the 2026 election. Allison shares her perspective as both a policymaker and a mom. We discuss the...

Kelley Stocker returns to American Motherhood, now serving as Westerville’s Vice Mayor and bringing her perspective as a high school government teacher. In this episode, Kelley offers a practical refresher on how Ohio’s government works, what’s on the ballot this year, and how the primary process functions. We break down the differences between state and federal roles, why primaries matter, and wh...

Welcome to the next season of American Motherhood . In this episode, Founder & Host Bethany Kungle and Managing Director Hayley Smith share the vision behind the podcast and what’s ahead in 2026. What began as a shift toward local engagement after the 2024 election has grown into a mission to make politics more accessible and relevant for busy moms. This year, you’ll hear from candidates, poli...

Welcome back to American Motherhood , where we explore how society and politics shape motherhood in America. In this special episode, we wrap up the Westerville local election series with two familiar voices: Kelley Stocker, candidate for Westerville City Council, and Tatjana Brown, candidate for Westerville City School Board of Education. We step back to consider what it means to serve the city,...

In this episode of  American Motherhood , we continue our Westerville local election series with our ninth candidate for City Council, John Gatiss. John describes himself as an activist, advocate, and community leader. We discuss how he hopes to balance growth with sustainability and the creative solutions he proposes to address rising costs. He also shares his perspective on transparency in local...