An Honorable Profession

In this week's episode, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with the CEO and Founder of the Inclusive Abundance Initiative, Derek Kaufman. Derek is a thought leader and policy strategist dedicated to advancing equity and sustainability through innovative business practices. The Inclusive Abundance Initiative aims to create inclusive economic systems that foster abundance for all, pushing back aga...

In this week's episode, host Ryan Coonerty speaks with New York Assemblymember Alex Bores, co-chair of the NewDEAL Forum AI Task Force. As one of the few state legislators in the country with a computer science background, Bores explains how artificial intelligence can change our elections, economy, and everyday lives. He also shares his thoughts on how the government should adjust to the rapid de...

In this week's episode, host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Connecticut Representative Kate Farrar. She talks about her continued efforts to move significant legislation to expand access to quality childcare, support local journalism to strengthen democracy, improve biking and pedestrian infrastructure in her community, and support refugees and immigrants who are moving to Connecticut and engaging in t...

In this week's episode, producer Rachel Walsh joins co-hosts Ryan Coonery and Debbie Cox Bultan to recap the past few months of this exciting election cycle. They discuss last week's Democratic National Convention, highlighting key themes and standout moments from speakers, including many NewDEAL leaders and alumni. They also reflect on our Road to November 2024 Messaging series, which featured in...

In this special DNC mini-sode host Debbie Cox Bultan talks with former Florida Senator Loranne Ausley, WelcomePAC Co-Founder Lauren Harper Pope, and Delaware State Senator and Congressional candidate Sarah McBride. They each reflect on the Convention, talk about their favorite speakers, and share what they're looking forward to on the last night of the DNC.

In this week's episode, host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Georgia Representative Tanya Miller. Rep. Miller is a prosecutor and civil rights attorney who has consistently worked to ensure justice and defend constitutional rights. She gives us an on-the-ground report about the fight for democracy and the energy presidential candidate Kamala Harris brings to the campaign in Georgia. Miller explains why...

In this special DNC-mini sode of An Honorable Profession, host Debbie Cox Bultan catches up with four amazing NewDEAL Leaders in Chicago to talk about their experiences so far. You'll hear from Cedar Rapids, IA, City Councilmember Ashley Vanorny; Albuquerque, NM, Mayor Tim Keller; Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson; and Texas Representative Salman Bhojani as they r...

The AHP team is on the ground this week in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, where host Debbie Cox Bultan is catching up with NewDEAL Leaders from across the country. Today, she talks to two exceptional mayors – Shelby County, TN, Mayor Lee Harris, and New Bedford, MA, Mayor Jon Mitchell – who share their favorite parts from the opening night of the convention and what they look forw...

In this week's episode, host Ryan Coonery talks with Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis. They discuss his impressive career as Pennsylvania's youngest and first Black Lieutenant Governor, and why a lack of representation in his hometown inspired him to serve in elected office. Davis also talks about how he is using his office to fight gun violence, support early learning programs, and g...

In this week's episode, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with the Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, Liz Walters. Chair Walters first joined us on An Honorable Profession in 2021, but a lot has happened in Ohio over the last three years, including the state's high-profile abortion ballot measure passed in 2023 and Donald Trump's recent selection of Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate. D...

In this week's episode, host Ryan Coonerty sits down with Representative Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, the youngest member of the Oklahoma legislature. Instead of pursuing a high-paying job as a mechanical engineer, Alonso-Sandoval decided to run for office during his senior year of college to serve the community where he grew up. Rep. Alonso-Sandoval talks about his motivation for getting into politics...

In this week's episode, NewDEAL CEO and host Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton, as the Speaker reflects on her "lady of firsts" track record in the legislature. In 2008, McClinton became the first woman and African American to be elected as House Democratic Caucus Chair, followed by becoming the first woman elected as the House Democratic Leader in the insti...

In this week's episode, Ryan Coonerty is joined by Clark County, Nevada, Commissioner Michael Naft. During a wide-ranging conversation, Commissioner Naft talks about Nevadans' role in deciding who the next president will be as well as how some of the world's most significant cultural and sporting events, like the Super Bowl and Formula 1 races, have come to Clark County, and what it takes to run t...

In this week's episode, Ryan Coonerty sits down with Illinois State Representative Bob Morgan. They reflect on the horrific mass shooting in the representative's community of Highland Park during a 4th of July Parade in 2022 – a timely topic as he returns from a visit to the White House, as he co-chairs the Illinois House Firearm Safety Reform Working Group. Morgan shares his experience working on...

Today, we're sharing NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan's recent appearance on the Pro Politics podcast – a political podcast that interviews people who work in and around the political industry. Host Zac McCrary and Debbie talk about growing up in a middle-class family in Sacramento, CA, her active role in her church, and her Capitol Hill internship with the late Congressman Vic Facio. They discuss he...

This week, NewDEAL CEO and host Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett. She talks about what it's like to serve in local government, her Congressional race in 2020, and her motivation to speak out against far-right extremism. Coming from a background in technology and media, Barrett also shares her work to ensure that all county residents have access to high-quality,...

This week, we bring you another episode of our Road to November 2024 election series, as co-hosts Debbie Cox Bultan and Ryan Coonerty sit down with Jesse Ferguson. Jesse is a leading Democratic strategist and consultant. With over two decades of experience, he has led national campaigns on issues ranging from health care to clean energy. Today, Jesse discusses recommended strategies for effectivel...

In this week's episode, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Newport News, VA's youngest elected mayor Phillip Jones. They discuss his first State of the City Address, where he proclaimed 2024 as the Year of the Youth, thanks to his initiatives like Night Nets and the Summer Youth Employment Program, as well as investments in expanded childcare throughout his city. Debbie and Mayor Jones also...

This episode continues our Road to November 2024 election series, as co-hosts Debbie Cox Bultan and Ryan Coonerty talk with political consultant and co-founder of the Lincoln Project Mike Madrid. Madrid has long been a leading analyst of Latino voters and has led strategic outreach to Latino communities for various campaigns over the past 30 years. Now, he's written a forthcoming book, titled The...

Exciting news! An Honorable Profession has found a new home at The Democracy Group – a network of podcasts united around the goal of helping listeners understand what's broken in our democracy, and how people are working together to fix it. Learn more at  www.democracygroup.org . In today's episode, Ryan Coonerty sits down with the Idaho House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel for an energizing conversa...

This week, we bring you another episode of our Road to November 2024 election series, as co-hosts Debbie Cox Bultan and Ryan Coonerty sit down with Nina Smith. Nina is a political communications strategist with a track record of collaborating with some of our very own NewDEALers, such as Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, former Georgia State Representative Stacey Abrams, and former Maryl...

In this week's episode, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon. In 2022, Secretary Simon was named by  TIME Magazine as a "Defender of Democracy ," and – as we pass the six-month mark in the lead up to November's election – he talks about his work to make this election one with high turnout and low drama. Simon reflects on Minnesota's historically high vo...

Recorded on stage at the NewDEAL Forum Ideas Summit in Phoenix, AZ, this week's episode features Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb in conversation with host Ryan Coonerty. They talk about Bibb's aspirations for improving his city, how he has set his top priorities, and his strategy to improve public safety and revitalize underserved neighborhoods using the influx of federal resources from the Biden Admi...

Recorded at the NewDEAL Forum Ideas Summit in Phoenix, AZ, this week's episode features infectious disease doctor and Iowa State Representative Megan Srinivas. She and co-host Ryan Coonerty talk about her journey as the child of immigrants in a small Iowa town, to a life changing visit to Kenya, to Harvard, and back to Iowa home to represent disadvantaged communities. They discuss her storytelling...

Recorded at the NewDEAL Forum Ideas Summit in Phoenix, AZ, this week's special episode features Oregon State Representative and recently elected majority leader Ben Bowman. He recaps Oregon's uniquely short legislative session, shares what the rest of the country can learn from the state's approaches to housing and addiction, and highlights the importance of campaign finance reforms. Ryan and Bowm...