Tips From The Trail

What is the state of women's representation in America today—and what will it take to bring more women into public leadership? In this special episode of Tips From The Trail, we share the opening session of WPLN's 2026 National Summit in Philadelphia, where WPLN Founder and President Larissa Martinez is joined by Debbie Walsh, Director of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutger...

What does it take to bring real-world experience, military service, motherhood, and public service together? In this special Mother's Day episode of Tips From The Trail, WPLN Founder and President Larissa Martinez sits down with Congresswoman Jen Kiggans to discuss her path from Navy helicopter pilot and geriatric nurse practitioner to elected office. Congresswoman Kiggans shares how her family an...

What does it look like to balance motherhood and public service? In this episode of Tips From The Trail , WPLN Founder and President Larissa Martinez sits down with former Colorado House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese for a candid conversation about raising children while serving in elected office. Rose shares what it was like to campaign while pregnant, bring a baby on the trail, and navigate the...

"People can't achieve what they can't see." In this episode of Tips from the Trail, Larissa Martinez sits down with Amber Benzon, President and Founder of Level Up, to celebrate Women's History Month with a powerful conversation about why women's voices matter in politics — and what it takes to step into leadership with confidence. Tune in to hear how women across the aisle are collaborating to ad...

How do you balance family life with running for office? In this episode of Tips From The Trail, WPLN Founder & President Larissa Martinez is joined by guest co-host Sara Marie Ridley, Growth Strategist at Numinar, to discuss tips and tricks for running for local office with Houston City Council Member Mary Nan Huffman. Tune in for a candid episode on what it's like to include your family on the ca...

What does it take to turn big ideas into real legislative change? In the Season 2 premiere of Tips From The Trail, WPLN Founder Larissa Martinez talks with Montana State Representative Courtenay Sprunger about the mental discipline required to take risks, the power of saying "yes" to leadership opportunities, and how to build the credibility needed to pass meaningful legislation. Courtenay shares...

What do you do after losing an election? In this episode of Tips From The Trail, WPLN Founder Larissa Martinez talks with Georgia State Representative Soo Hong about how she turned loss into victory. Soo shares her experience losing her first race, the lessons she learned from disappointment, and the strategies that helped her bounce back and win her seat in 2022. Learn about the importance of yea...

What does it take to manage campaigns in the final stretch to Election Day and how can women candidates navigate the unique challenges they face on the trail? In this episode of Tips from the Trail, Larissa Martinez sits down with Betsy Ankney, a seasoned campaign strategist who has worked at one of the highest levels of American politics: a presidential campaign. Betsy shares advice for women lea...

What cyber threats will you actually face as a candidate, and how can you protect your campaign without breaking the bank? In this episode of Tips from the Trail, Larissa Martinez sits down with Michael Kaiser, President & CEO of Defending Digital Campaigns, to break down practical cybersecurity strategies for women running for office. Learn why passkeys are the #1 security step you must take, how...

How do you build a winning team as a woman running for office? In this episode of Tips from the Trail, Larissa Martinez talks with Sandra Benitez from the LIBRE Initiative about what it takes to assemble a strong campaign team. Sandra shares insights on including diverse voices, leading with authenticity, and creating supportive environments that set your campaign up for success. Whether you're a...

How do you raise the money you need to win your first campaign—without burning out or burning bridges? In this episode of Tips from the Trail, WPLN Founder & President Larissa Martinez sits down with political strategist Danielle Bradley to break down the fundamentals of campaign fundraising. With experience managing field operations, coalitions, and communications at every level—including serving...

Hosted by WPLN Founder & President Larissa Martinez, Tips From The Trail explores the path to political office, from the decision to run, to election day. This program features women leaders who are working in or around politics or have run for office, revealing their best tips and tricks for success. Our next episode will feature June Cutter, who, after a nearly 20-year career as a civil litigato...

This month, Larissa is joined by Joel Noyes, Chair of WPLN's Board of Directors. In this latest installment, Joel and Larissa share practical advice for preparing support systems for public leadership challenges and shed light on how families, partners, and friends can better understand and provide support for women leaders. Discover how WPLN builds robust networks and get actionable advice for bo...

Join us for a special "Mother's Day" episode with Jennifer Nassour on running for City Council and motherhood. We delve into her experiences both on the campaign trail and off, the role of her support system during the journey, and her advice for other women considering taking that next step.

What drives you to lead? Larissa Martinez sits down with Maralyn Beck, founder of the New Mexico Child First Network, to explore how a strong sense of purpose is the foundation for effective leadership. Maralyn shares her personal journey and insights on overcoming hesitation, translating passion into action, and building a supportive network to lead with conviction. 

What is the Confidence Gap, and how does it affect women in leadership? Larissa Martinez (WPLN Founder & President) and Valerie Dowling (Vice Chair, WPLN Board of Directors) dive into why it's not only important to lead with competence, but also with confidence.

Ever wonder what it takes to run for office? In WPLN's debut podcast episode, Former U.S. Representative Mimi Walters shares her journey and path to political office, how she conquered her fears and and strategies for building consensus in elected office. Plus, get 10% off tickets to our 2025 National Summit in Orlando for a limited time with code PODCAST . V alid through 11:59 p.m. ET on February...