American Motherhood

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...

Today we continue our local election series with Westerville City Council candidate, Matt Erney.  Matt is a husband, father of four, and longtime Westerville resident who built a career through owning two small local businesses. On the campaign trail, he’s emphasized keeping national politics out of local decisions, while focusing on families, safety, and fiscal responsibility. In this episode, we...

Today we’re continuing our local election series with Dr. Coutanya Coombs, Westerville’s Vice-Mayor and City Councilmember who’s running for re-election this fall. Coutanya is a mom and community builder with a passion for bringing people together across Westerville. In this episode, we talk about the impact she’s had in her first term and her vision moving forward - everything from walkability an...

We continue our local election series with Daniela Beckett, candidate for Westerville City Council. Daniela is a mom, a wife, and Director of Operations for a local business. She’s running on a “people first” approach with a focus on safe neighborhoods and affordability. Her American story begins with an immigration journey from Colombia, and you’ll hear why she and her husband chose Westerville t...

In this episode of American Motherhood , we continue our Westerville local election series with City Council candidate Preston Stapleton. Preston shares what inspired him to run and how his experiences as both a professional and a parent shape his leadership style. We discuss his priorities-open communication, thoughtful economic growth, preserving green space, and community safety-along with his...

Today we’re talking with Aaron Glasgow, a current member of Westerville City Council, running for re-election this November. Aaron is an attorney who brings legal expertise, leadership, and a community-centered vision to his role on Council. In our conversation, he reflects on his path to public service, explains the responsibilities within Council, and highlights the impact of his work in Westerv...

I’m excited to bring you another episode in the American Motherhood local election series, where we’ve been getting to know the candidates running for Westerville City Council and the Westerville City School Board of Education. I sat down with Anisa Liban, the current Vice President of the Westerville City School Board, running for re-election this fall. Anisa is a first-generation student, a mom...

We continue the American Motherhood local election series with Mark Faubel, candidate for Westerville City Council. Mark is a husband, father, step-father, small business owner, and financial professional who has served our community through groups like the Chamber of Commerce, the school PTA, and the Westerville Education Foundation. We talk about why he’s running, how his experiences shape his l...

In this episode of American Motherhood , I talk with Angie Hamberg, Superintendent of Westerville City Schools, about her role, her vision for the future, and the district's earned income tax issue on the ballot this fall. We cover what excites her most about our schools, the challenges of recent state funding cuts, efforts to improve student achievement, and we put enrollment trends into pers...

In this episode we meet with Megan Reamsnyder, our Vice Chair of City Council running for re-election this November. Megan is a graduate of Westerville City Schools and The Ohio State University. She continues to have deep roots in our community through her non-profit leadership, full-time work with Otterbein University as Assistant Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs, and of course raising...

In this episode we meet with our current Westerville City School Board President, Kristy Meyer, who is up for re-election this November. Kristy is a graduate of Westerville schools and continues to have deep roots in our community as she and her husband raise their two kids in the district. With her Master’s degree in Environmental Biology, Kristy has worked for over 20 years in the non-profit env...

Let's continue our Local Election Series as we prepare for a very full ballot in Westerville this fall. Today we will meet our first candidate for our Board of Education, one of 7 candidates currently running for 3 open positions. If you are interested in hearing more from our candidates in this space, be sure to subscribe to American Motherhood on your favorite podcast app and if you like wha...