United SHE Stands

In episode 134, we chat with our new friend, Nan Whaley! She talks to us about the current state of reproductive rights in Ohio and beyond. This conversation gave us just the boost we needed to keep fighting this fight! Nan is a seasoned public servant with more than two decades of experience in local government. Since 2024, Ms. Whaley has served as the President and C.E.O. of Planned Parenthood S...

Episode 133 features our incredible conversation with Dr. Amy Acton, who's running as the Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio. She left us feeling so hopeful about the future of our home state - and we think you’ll feel the same after listening! Dr. Amy Acton grew up in Youngstown, Ohio under difficult circumstances. But that made Amy tough – and now, Amy is running for governor to fight for...

In episode 132, lifelong human rights advocate and Iranian Resistance supporter Zahra Amanpour gives us a TL;DR on Iran’s fight for democracy—and shares a lesser-known path forward for the country’s future. Born during the 1979 Iranian Revolution in Tehran, Zahra’s life has been defined by the struggle for freedom. Her father, a prominent advocate with the MEK/PMOI was killed in 1988, a summer mar...

In episode 131, our special guest, Alycia Asai, gives us a history lesson on the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era. Alycia is an independent historian whose research interests center around women, labor, and the evolution of the social safety net in the United States. She is the researcher, producer, and host of the podcast, Civics & Coffee where she explores the stories of America’s past in the...

In episode 130, we’re joined by our new friend, Anna Musky-Goldwyn, who talks with us about the power of Millennial and Gen Z leaders and voters. Anna is a writer for film and television whose passion for politics led her to co-found Political Playlist, a platform that focuses on what the youngest members of Congress (under 45-years-old), across the political spectrum are doing and saying. She co-...

We’re back from our summer break with a behind the scenes episode! Ever wonder what goes on behind the mic here at United SHE Stands? This episode is for you! Connect with USS: * Substack * Instagram * TikTok This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner . Learn more about him and his services here: * Website * Instagram This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or g...

Missed this gem of an episode the first couple of times we dropped it? You’re in luck! Here’s one of our favorite episodes EVER, featuring THE Sharon McMahon, AKA @SharonSaysSo on Instagram. After years of serving as a high school government and law teacher, Sharon McMahon took her passion for education to Instagram, where more than a million people (who affectionately call themselves “Governerds”...

You think we’d go digging through the vault and NOT re-release this episode?! Think again and thank us later ;) For this episode, we’re joined by April Ajoy, the author of Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith. We chat with her about her book and her journey of breaking free from Christian Nationalism. We also talk about the threat it poses to our country and...

Y’all loved this episode so much the first time, we just KNEW you’d want to hear it again! This episode dives into the intersections of nutrition, public health, and misinformation with Dr. Jessica Knurick. The conversation addresses the complexities of the Make America Healthy Again movement, the dangers of the misinformation, the harm in oversimplifying complex issues, and the influence of socia...

In episode 125, we sit down with Katie Gatti Tassin, one of our DREAM guests, to talk about the intersection of money and politics. Tune in - you won’t regret it! Katie Gatti Tassin is the host of the Money with Katie podcast and author of the newsletter of the same name, both acquired by Morning Brew in 2022. Providing fresh personal finance advice that tackles the subject at hand with a unique o...

In episode 124, we are joined by Congressman Greg Landsman, who helps us break down Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” AKA the “Big Bullshit Bill”. Shoutout to the Congressman for being the FIRST federal-level elected official to be on United SHE Stands! Representative Greg Landsman is a father and husband who is proud to call Southwest Ohio home. Before joining the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023...

In episode 123, we talk about the horrors of Senate Bill 1 in Ohio and its negative impact on higher education in the state. We couldn’t do this without our guest, Dr. Karla Hamlen-Mansour, who goes through the details of the bill with us. Karla has a Ph. D. in Educational Psychology and is a Professor at Cleveland State University in the School of Education and Counseling. She has been at CSU for...

For episode 122, we welcome back our friend, Liz Minnella! We talk about the current vibes of the democratic party, the significant changes they’ve made in the past four months, and Liz’s PAC - Connect Forward. Liz is a mom of two toddlers, an advocate, fundraiser and Instagram demfluencer. She gained an audience on Instagram following the Fourth of July shooting in Highland Park by posting short...

In episode 121, we dive into: * Socialism vs Communism & Socialism vs Democratic Socialism * The Progressive Platform in the U.S. * The media coverage of Bernie Sanders & his messaging * The media coverage of AOC & her messaging Sources: * Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and socialism, explained * Socialism - Definition, Origins & Countries * How Did 'Socialism' Become a Dirty Word in America? | History...

In episode 120, we are joined by the Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, Liz Walters! We talk about how became so passionate about politics, the biggest challenges Democrats face in Ohio, and how to turn Ohio into a swing state again. You don’t want to miss this conversation! In January of 2021, Liz was unanimously elected as Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. She is the first woman elected to th...

In episode 119, we talk with Cameron Hilaker, who was recently fired from his job at USAID as part of DOGE cuts. Tune in to hear his story and how he’s turned into a fierce advocate for other fired federal employees. Cameron worked at USAID as an Emergency Manager responding to domestic and international crises. As a leader of the Readiness Team, his role was to ensure that as a crisis developed,...

In episode 118, we talk about super fun and light-hearted things…like fascism!! Our guest, Craig Johnson, is a researcher and educator focused on stopping the rise of the extreme right-wing. He’s the host of Fifteen Minutes of Fascism podcast, runs a YouTube series celebrating the deaths of right-wing figures throughout history, and is the author of How to Talk to Your Son about Fascism, a guide f...

In episode 117, Amanda Becker, author and The 19th News’ Washington correspondent, joins us to talk about how we should still be paying close attention to reproductive and abortion rights in this country - even if your state has protections. Her first book, “You Must Stand Up: The Fight for Abortion Rights in Post-Dobbs America,” was published by Bloomsbury in September 2024. Becker has been on th...

In episode 116, we talk about how the oligarchy owns the media in the U.S. and if that makes the press truly “free”. References * It's OK to Be Angry About Capitalism a book by Senator Bernie Sanders and John Nichols - Bookshop.org US * Free press: definition and role in democracy I liberties.eu | liberties.eu * Overview of Freedom of the Press | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of...

In episode 115, we sit down with Eloisa Perard, CEO and President of Gracelight Community Health in Los Angeles, to talk about all things healthcare advocacy and federally qualified health centers. Don’t know what those are? No worries, we didn’t either! Listen to this episode to learn more about the amazing work they do. Gracelight Community Health is a non-profit, Federally Qualified Community H...

In episode 114, we talk about the Learning Space. Have you ever been in that frustrating place where you want to understand something, but you just… don’t? Where your brain is stuck between “not knowing” and “knowing,” and all you want to do is quit? Well, according to Dr. Becky Kennedy, that frustration isn’t a sign that you’re failing—it’s a sign that you’re learning. And today, we’re talking ab...

In episode 113, we sit down with author, historian, and founder and co-host of the Hashtag History podcast, Rachel Lee Perez. She was kind enough to give us a history lesson on the Reconstruction Era and how it compares to what’s happening in the world today. Resources: * Hashtag History Website * Remedial Herstory Project * The Hashtag History episode mentioned: Episode 117: The Impeachment of An...

In episode 112, we spend some time chatting with Anderson Clayton who serves as the current chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. We talk through what she’s currently fighting in NC, how to be a successful democrat in the state, and more. Elected at 25 years old, Clayton is the youngest chair of a state democratic party. Chair Clayton grew up in Roxboro, North Carolina and graduated from A...

In episode 111, we have a conversation about the book On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth-Century by Timothy Snyder. You don’t want to miss this episode OR this short and informative read! Resources * Timothy Snyder | Penguin Random House * On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century: Snyder, Timothy * Democratic FEC Chair Ellen Weintraub says Trump fired her. She says it's not...

In episode 110, we break down dehumanizing rhetoric by exploring how it has been used throughout history to justify violence, discrimination, and different atrocities. We also discuss the psychological and societal impacts of such rhetoric, and how it creates mob mentality and enables authoritarian regimes. Buckle up! Resources * The Cause and Effect of Language: Understanding Its Impact on Commun...