Shows
New Faces of DemocracyA Pep Talk from Robert Hubbell of Today's EditionOn this episode, Nancy is joined once again by guest co-host Betsy Morgan for a conversation with Robert Hubbell of Today’s Edition newsletter, the ultimate resource for grassroots Democrats who can’t face the news. In Today’s Edition, Robert provides a digest of the day’s news, couched in hopeful realism. In other words, Robert spends his days immersed in the media landscape so you don’t have to. And on this episode he is giving us a much needed pep talk. Robert, Betsy and Nancy talk about how to keep on keeping on during dark times, the import...
2025-10-1558 minNew Faces of DemocracyErin Miller of Cartoons for DemocracyIf you’re listening to this podcast, you’re probably no stranger to the postcard writing groups that have blossomed since the 2016 election. In fact, you may have written some of them yourself. But Nancy’s guest on this episode, Erin Miller, has come up with a different take on the postcard concept with her new group, Cartoons for Democracy. Instead of writing to Democrats to get out the vote as existing groups do, she is targeting Republican and independent voters with postcards featuring political cartoons in an effort to break through corporate media bubbles and get people thinking for the...
2025-08-2035 minNew Faces of DemocracyTake 2 with Brian Derrick of Oath.VoteOn this episode, Nancy is joined once again with guest co-host Betsy Morgan for a conversation with Brian Derrick, of the online Democratic fundraising platform, Oath.Vote. Brian last came on the podcast in July 2024 when many of us were still nervously hopeful that a Democrat might win the election. Now a year later, but feeling like worlds apart from the American democracy as it existed back then, Nancy and Betsy talk to Brian about Oath’s impact in 2024, their big goals for Virginia this fall and bigger goals for the midterms, the difference between witnessing and action, and so...
2025-07-2348 minNew Faces of DemocracyJess Piper: How Democrats Can Win in Rural AmericaNancy is joined by guest host Betsy Morgan on this episode featuring superstar activist Jess Piper speaking about how Democrats can win with rural voters. Jess has become a prominent voice for rural Democrats and in her work at Blue Missouri, she and her colleagues are working to run a Democrat in every race in the state. Jess, Betsy and Nancy talk about the desperate state of affairs in rural Missouri where infrastructure has been gutted by the Republican state supermajority; what Democrats get wrong when it comes to rural voters; and how a relatively small increase in Democratic t...
2025-04-1655 minNew Faces of DemocracyJackie Payne of Galvanize ActionThis episode features Jackie Payne of Galvanize Action, an organization that focuses on moderate women living in rural, small town and suburban areas. These women want progress on key issues but aren’t reliably playing a role to get us there. Galvanize Action helps them connect with their values in a way that impacts their civic behavior. Nancy and Jackie talk about the neuroscience and behavioral psychology underlying the work at Galvanize Action; the nuanced concerns of this group of women that constitute the largest voting bloc in the country; and the challenges posed by misinformation and disinformation. To lea...
2025-04-0231 min
From Beneath the Hollywood Sign“RICHARD CARLSON: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” (081)“RICHARD CARLSON: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” (081) - 3/31/2025Tall, dark-haired, and handsome, RICHARD CARLSON was always a welcomed addition to any cast. From the beginning, when he was playing preppy college students opposite LANA TURNER, to his reign in the 1950s as the King of Sci-Fi thrillers, Carlson brought believability and authority to each role but also a sense of introspective thoughtfulness. You looked into his deep blue eyes and chiseled face and believed him. Whatever he was selling, we were buying. And while he never became an A-list leading man, he enjoyed a lo...
2025-03-3127 minNew Faces of DemocracySarah Curmi, Executive Director of Sister District.This episode features a conversation with Sarah Curmi, Executive Director of Sister District. Founded in the aftermath of the 2016 election, Sister District is a women-led grassroots political group that is dedicated to building lasting Democratic power in state legislatures. The group is powered by volunteers in blue districts that pair or “sister” up with key swing districts where their efforts can really move the needle. Unlike some other groups that have petered out over the years, the folks at Sister District have taken their mandate and run with it, expanding their operations to much more than just elections. Sarah and...
2025-03-1926 minNew Faces of DemocracyAmanda Carpenter of Protect DemocracyThis episode features a conversation with Amanda Carpenter of Protect Democracy, a cross-ideological nonprofit devoted to stopping authoritarianism. Nancy first featured Protect Democracy on this podcast four years ago, shortly after the January 6th insurrection. Given the rollercoaster that we have been on since then, and the new and dangerous threats that we face as a country, this seemed like a good time to check back in. Amanda and Nancy discuss the challenges of imposing political consequences without political power, and how the pro-democracy coalition must channel the energy and anger of the current moment into meaningful pressure from t...
2025-03-0533 minNew Faces of DemocracyJason Berlin of Field Team 6Is registering Democrats the key to saving the world? That’s the premise behind Field Team 6 whose founder Jason Berlin is Nancy’s guest on this episode. Jason and Nancy first spoke five years ago when Field Team 6 was registering voters in parking lots. Now the group has grown into a grassroots powerhouse that is reaching millions of unregistered voters online and in person and getting out the vote in swing states and districts around the country. Jason and I talk about the massive volunteer army that powers his organization, with teams of experts in their fields; and the meas...
2025-02-1944 minNew Faces of DemocracyDana Castner of Choice TrackerThis episode features a conversation with Dana Castner, founder of Choice Tracker, a new and important tool in the fight for reproductive freedom. When the Supreme Court ruled in June 2022 that abortion laws must be decided by the states, that put a lot of power in the hands of our state legislators, many of whom we had never heard of, let alone knew their stances on abortion. That’s what Dana discovered and led her to start the all-volunteer group Choice Tracker just two weeks after the Dobbs decision. Nancy and Dana discuss the value in providing voters all the...
2025-02-0530 minNew Faces of DemocracyJess Craven of Chop Wood Carry WaterThis episode features a conversation with activist Jess Craven of Chop Wood Carry Water. With close to half a million followers on TikTok and 53,000 subscribers to her substack, Jess is a fierce and passionate warrior for democracy. On this episode, Jess shares with Nancy her view of what it means to be an activist at this time full of so many unknowns, how to find hope through action, some of her favorite organizations right now, and so much more. Tune in for a dose of sanity and humanity, and you will leave both calmed and energized for whatever it...
2025-01-2240 minNew Faces of DemocracySeason 5: How Not to be an OstrichThis season is dedicated to helping you get your head out of the sand after a brutally disappointing election, finding strength through community and taking action that helps real people in palpable ways. If you’re looking for rage, this may not be the place for you, but if you seek inspiration, and maybe even hope, then tune into to Season 5 of the New Faces of Democracy podcast.
2025-01-1503 minNew Faces of DemocracyGrace Cowan of Frogmore Stew: A Red State Democrat's ViewThis episode features a conversation with Grace Cowan of Frogmore Stew, a podcast focused on South Carolina politics. Nancy and Grace thought it would be interesting, on the cusp of this momentous election, to see how life looks like on the other side of our red state and blue state fences. They talk about how when it comes down to everyday issues there really is a lot more blurring of the partisan lines than the media and national party propaganda would have us believe. They also discuss how certain issues like climate change can transcend party, and that, in...
2024-10-3026 minNew Faces of DemocracyMark Bergman: Wargaming Trump 2.0What if Trump wins? On this episode, Nancy has a conversation with Mark Bergman about something none of us want to think about: what would happen to the rule of law and American democracy in a second Trump term. Last spring, Mark was an observer at a series of large scale simulated exercises (aka war games) stress testing democracy under an authoritarian ruler. Hosted by the Brennan Center, a nonpartisan think tank at NYU Law School, the exercises were conducted as part of theDemocracy Futures Project. Nancy and Mark discuss the outcome of the games, our lack of preparedness fo...
2024-10-2337 minNew Faces of DemocracyNimit Sawhney of VoatzThis episode features a conversation with Nimit Sawhney of Voatz, a mobile voting app that uses cutting edge technology to make voting more accessible, secure and auditable. Spelled V-O-A-T-Z, the app is already in use in elections around the world and has the potential to transform our electoral system here in the U.S. Nimit and Nancy discuss the app’s blockchain-based technology; they do a deep dive on security concerns; and Nimit explains how Voatz has the potential to restore public trust in the voting process. This episode is the third in a series on the tra...
2024-10-1640 minNew Faces of DemocracyNathaniel Stinnett of the Environmental Voter ProjectThis episode features a conversation with Nathaniel Stinnett of the Environmental Voter Project, a nonprofit that is building political power for climate issues not by changing minds but by changing behavior. As a political campaign veteran, Nathaniel noticed that an enormous number of registered voters lists the environment as a top priority but does not vote. So he came up with the brilliant idea of turning them into consistent voters to build the political power to fix the climate crisis. Nathaniel and Nancy discuss the highly accurate predictive models that they use to identify these voters; how to turn...
2024-10-0250 minNew Faces of DemocracyMargie Stein of 140 Florida BlueNancy catches up with activist Margie Stein of 140 Florida Blue who continues to work tirelessly to make Florida blue again. Nancy and Margie speak about why she is once again recruiting and funding Democrats to run in every single Florida district, even where Democrats don’t normally win; the reverse coattails effect; the abortion amendment on the ballot; and the path to making Florida a swing state once again. It does cost money to help a candidate run, but the long term impact could be priceless. Click here to donate and click here to watch David Pepper’s video on 1...
2024-09-1831 minNew Faces of DemocracyJason Springer on School Boards and the Education Truth ProjectThis episode features a conversation with Jason Springer about how the Education Truth Project, a New Jersey super PAC, is keeping school boards free of extremist voices. Jason and Nancy discuss how, in recent years, out of state groups have been infiltrating local school boards, using children as pawns to advance political agendas; how we need to return to dialogue versus the “my way or the highway” mentality; and the importance of local solutions to local issues. For more information on the Education Truth Project, visit their website.
2024-09-0429 minNew Faces of DemocracyDrew Kromer of Meck Dems: Can One County Flip NC Blue?On this episode, Nancy speaks with Drew Kromer, Chairman of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party in North Carolina. Could Mecklenburg County hold the key to flipping North Carolina blue? According to Drew, the answer is yes. Nancy and Drew talk about the huge numbers of Democrats in the county and the slim margins needed to win state-wide races; why people have historically not shown up to the polls; and how to scale up their volunteer operation in time for November and create lasting Democratic infrastructure for the future. To donate or volunteer, see the links below.https://w...
2024-08-2138 minNew Faces of DemocracyJocelyn Bucaro of Mobile Voting ProjectThis episode features a conversation with Jocelyn Bucaro of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Mobile Voting Project. Could mobile voting save democracy? Jocelyn and Nancy speak about how it’s already being used in many jurisdictions in the US and around the world; creating public trust in the technology; and how it has the potential to transform our hyper partisan political landscape and help our democracy work better for us all. For more information, go to the Mobile Voting Project website where you can also sign up to volunteer or follow them on social media.
2024-08-0527 minNew Faces of DemocracyRamon Perez of the Digital Democracy ProjectThis episode features a conversation with Ramon Perez of the Digital Democracy Project. Imagine a world where you have the same access to your representatives as a lobbyist or a wealthy donor, where you get to say how you would like them to vote on a bill and see how they vote in real time. And it’s all on an app on the phone in your pocket. That’s called the Digital Democracy Project, and it’s currently a reality in Florida with plans to expand to all 50 states. Ramon and Nancy speak about how tools like blockchain keep t...
2024-07-2434 minNew Faces of DemocracySeason 4 TrailerWho among us isn’t feeling at least a tinge, if not a tsunami, of panic right now, with a disastrous debate, dystopian Supreme Court decisions and Project 2025 lurking in our nightmares? I’m not good at sitting with anxiety, so my reaction is always to get to work – and right now that means more new episodes of the New Faces of Democracy podcast. So if you’re looking for a balm for your frazzled soul, check out the new season that’s well underway featuring conversations with people who are nothing short of warriors for democracy.
2024-07-1702 minNew Faces of DemocracyBrian Derrick of OathWhat to do after a disastrous presidential debate and devastating Supreme Court rulings? This episode features a conversation with Brian Derrick of Oath, who has one solution: smart, impactful giving to candidates up and down the ballot who will protect democracy and defend our most cherished rights. Oath is an online fundraising platform that helps Democratic donors identify where their money is most needed in the races that mean the most to them, whether their focus is flipping the House, state legislatures, reproductive rights and more. Nancy and Brian talk about the problem of wasted donations to long shot...
2024-07-1035 minNew Faces of DemocracyEmily White of #iVoted ConcertsThis episode features a conversation with Emily White of #iVoted Concerts. For all the technology in our world today, voter turnout tactics, like door knocking and phone banking, have seen remarkably little innovation in decades. But when, in 2016, Wisconsin native and music industry insider Emily White first heard about the narrow vote margin that helped Donald Trump win the White House in her home state, she thought, “Wait a minute, that’s the size of a concert venue!”. That was the lightbulb moment when Emily came up with the idea of organizing election night concerts with free tickets for people...
2024-06-1229 minNew Faces of DemocracyClaire Atkin of Check My AdsThis episode features a conversation with Claire Atkin of the ad tech watchdog Check My Ads. Our online world has become incredibly complex, bringing with it myriad opportunities for bad actors to manipulate opinions, ideas and ultimately our political system. You may not know what ad tech is or why we need a watchdog, but the bottom line is that Claire and her colleagues at Check My Ads have ventured deep into the weeds to defund online platforms that promote hate and disinformation by taking away their revenue sources: ads. Claire and Nancy talk about the “donut of grifters” on t...
2024-06-0532 minNew Faces of DemocracyJordan Zaslow of Her Bold MoveFour years ago, Jordan Zaslow was busy with her life running an advertising and entertainment production company, but when things shut down during covid in 2020, she found herself with time on her hands and lots of worries about the upcoming election. So she and her team decided to channel that anxiety into making pro bono campaign ads for female Democrats running for office, and Her Bold Move was born. Her Bold Move is now in their fourth election cycle and dedicated to electing more “pro-women” women who will influence policy on issues that matter to women, like reproductive rights and...
2024-05-1535 minNew Faces of DemocracySeth Bluestein, Philadelphia City CommissionerOn this episode, Nancy speaks with Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein, a Republican whose office is in charge of election operations and voter registration in the Pennsylvania city. Nancy and Seth talk about why, despite enduring threats and harassment in 2020 from members of his own party, Seth remains committed to his mission of ensuring free, secure and transparent elections for all voters. They also discuss the importance of bipartisanship, what it means to be a principled Republican today, and why Seth has recently become affiliated with the Forward Party. This conversation will leave you feeling reassured about the prospects...
2024-04-1726 minNew Faces of DemocracyMelissa Walker of The States ProjectOn this episode, Nancy welcomes back Melissa Walker of the States Project (formerly known as Future Now). Melissa appeared on the very first episode of this podcast, when deep in Covid lockdown, she schooled us on why we should be focusing on winning state races versus focusing on big, expensive federal seats. On this episode, Melissa is back to talk about why state elections matter now more than ever, how tiny margins can create huge policy and power shifts, and why this year’s elections in Virginia are of vital importance. Melissa doesn’t sugarcoat the fight that lies ahea...
2023-09-0637 min
New Faces of DemocracyLindsey Drath of the Forward PartyThis episode features a conversation with Lindsey Drath, CEO of the Forward Party, a newly formed political party that intends to bring power back to the majority of Americans and take it away from the fringes. Imagine a world in which the will of the plurality rules, where the 70-80% of Americans who support things like gun laws and abortion and climate action have their say, instead of being governed by extremists. With the support of political luminaries from both major parties, like Andrew Yang, Evan McMullin, David Jolly, and Christine Todd Whitman, the Forward Party promises to return...
2023-05-1837 min
值得表扬03. Christian Mysticism/Mystical Writing/Hagiography值得表扬第三期邀请了在芝大比较文学系读博的Alma和上期嘉宾小马一起来聊Christian Mysticism和Colonial Latin American Studies！一起来听听看在国内，西班牙，英国，和美国做西班牙语文学研究不同的体验吧
P.S.有的地方声音听起来不同是因为一些片段是后来补录的 还请见谅
时间线：
05:34普林斯顿面试体验
08:05如何走上西语研究的道路
10:38为什么最后选择了英语国家读博
12:12申请的时候学科选择问题
13:35在比文系和在罗曼语言系读博的差别
15:31牛津就读体验
17:45芝大就读体验
23:10研究兴趣的变化 介绍Colonial Latin American Studies
31:14Mysticism是什么 什么是mystical writing, hagiography
41:46从affect的角度对mysticism的研究，affective mysticism
46:22博论关注的方向 论点: porous body
54:49印度教中的poet saint/ornamentality/female sainthood
1:07:12female mystics in 20th critical theory
1:11:01奥尔巴赫的figura interpretation
1:12:37阅读文本时的具身体验
1:18:04研究中面临过的困难
1:23:58拉丁美洲淳朴的racism
1:26:06博论和亚洲联系的可能
1:31:18如何处理阅读文本时可能遇到的ethical problems
1:33:43学科的主流是什么
1:35:33博论以外在探索的研究: the Christian Century in Japan
1:43:22有没有从观众reception的角度研究的可能
以下为Alma提供的书单：
On Mysticism and Female Mystics:
Auerbach, Erich."Figura," Archivum Romanicum 22 (1938): 436-89.
Bataille, Georges.Inner Experience. Albany: State University of New York Press,1988.
Beauvoir, Simone de et al. The Second Sex. Vintage 2011.
Bynum, Caroline Walker. Christian Materiality: An Essay on Religion in LateMedieval Europe.Zone Books, 2011.
Certeau, Michelde. The Mystic Fable. University of Chicago Press, 1992.
Dailey, Patricia. Promised bodies: Time, Language, and Corporeality in MedievalWomen'sMystical Texts. Columbia University Press, 2013.
Hollywood, Amy M. Sensible Ecstasy: Mysticism, Sexual Difference, and the Demands of History. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2002.
Ignatius, of Loyola, and George E. Ganss. Ignatius of Loyola: The Spiritual Exercises and Selected Works. Paulist Press, 1991.
Irigaray, Luce.Speculum of the Other Woman. Cornell University Press, 1985.
Kristeva, Julia, and Arthur Goldhammer. "Stabat mater." Poetics Today 6.1/2(1985):133-152
Largier, Niklaus: Figures of Possibility: Aesthe...
2022-11-241h 47New Faces of DemocracyMichelle Colon, An Abortion Freedom Fighter in MississippiThis episode features a conversation with abortion rights activist Michelle Colon of SHERo (Sisters Helping Every Woman Rise and Organize), an organization dedicated to reproductive justice for black and brown women in Mississippi. While there’s no sugarcoating the dire state of abortion rights in our country right now, this conversation will help you pick yourself up out of your puddle of tears and start to take action. Michelle and Nancy talk about how Mississippi, with its myriad abortion restrictions, is virtually already in a post-Roe universe and how it will only get harder; the fraught history of bodily au...
2022-05-2543 minNew Faces of DemocracyDiana Robinson of Make the Road PennsylvaniaOn the last episode with Stacy Kramer of Blueprint/Swing Left, we got a bird’s eye view of why we should support grassroots groups in swing states. This week, Nancy is following up with a “boots on the ground” perspective from Diana Robinson, civic engagement director at Make the Road Pennsylvania. Diana discusses her group’s support of working class Latinx communities year in and year out, and how that translates into votes for Democrats when elections roll around. Nancy and Diana also talk about what life is like in a deeply divided battleground state like Pennsylvania, how the group...
2022-05-1126 minNew Faces of DemocracyStacy Kramer: Why Grassroots Giving Will Save DemocracyThis episode features Stacy Kramer who first came on the podcast two years ago as a newly activated Democratic fundraiser who was making fundraising more Democratic. But after the disappointing down ballot results for Democrats in 2020, she took a hard look at what had gone wrong and realized that giving large amounts of money directly to candidates and campaigns is not a winning strategy. Now she has changed activist gears and is a consultant at Blueprint, a division of the political action group Swing Left. At Blueprint, Stacy is dedicating her time to building up local grassroots civics groups...
2022-04-2737 minNew Faces of DemocracyNisha Anand on Radical Common GroundThis episode features Indian-American activist and racial justice leader Nisha Anand of Dream Corps. Once a radical grassroots activist arrested in Burma for passing out pro-democracy leaflets, Nisha’s expansive organizing experience and work with mentors like Van Jones, solidified her belief in the power of working with unlikely partners to find real solutions. As Dream Corps’ CEO, Nisha leads a diverse group of people who are learning, like her, the value of unconventional relationships. Nisha and Nancy speak about how we can and must work with people across the divide to come up with lasting solutions to our bigg...
2022-04-1337 minNew Faces of DemocracyClaire Ullman and Sandy Radoff of Students for JusticeOn this episode, Nancy speaks with Claire Ullman and Sandy Radoff of the voter outreach group Students for Justice. In 2020, Claire was a professor who was trying to help her students whose summer jobs had gone up in smoke during the covid lockdown. Sandy was an active volunteer with the Center for Common Ground. The two of them saw an untapped resource to help get out the vote of people of color in voter suppression states, and Students for Justice was born. Sandy, Claire and Nancy discuss repurposing skills from earlier careers to do good; the importance of giving...
2022-03-3034 minNew Faces of DemocracyChanging our Diets to Save the WorldAnd now for something completely different with this episode on plant based eating. This is the second in a two part environmental series on thinking globally and acting locally. In the last episode, Nancy spoke with Daniel Katz of the Rainforest Alliance about the global effect of rainforest destruction on climate change and that the main cause for this destruction is cattle raising. But it’s not just cattle in rainforests that are the problem. Worldwide, animal agriculture accounts for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s more than the entire transportation sector combined, which clocks in at 13%. This all mean...
2022-03-1630 min
New Faces of DemocracyDaniel Katz on Saving Rainforests to Save the WorldThis episode with Daniel Katz of the Rainforest Alliance, is the first in a two part environmental series on thinking globally and acting locally. While you probably know that rainforests around the world are in danger, you may not know that rainforest destruction wreaks havoc on the climate and puts us all in danger. You also may not know that, here in the United States, we as consumers are culpable in aiding and abetting global rainforest destruction. Daniel and Nancy talk about the connection between rainforests and climate, why deforestation is taking place, and ways our personal choices can...
2022-03-0237 min
New Faces of DemocracyAndrea Miller: Turning the Tide for Voters of Color in the SouthThis episode features a conversation with Andrea Miller, founding board member of the Center for Common Ground. The Center for Common Ground is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to turning out the vote of people of color in voter suppression states in the South. Nancy and Andrea talk about the most devious and extreme voter suppression tactics today; the tools and techniques to fight them; and the importance of teaching people how their government works. Andrea’s tireless work may ultimately make all the difference between red and blue in the coming elections, and you will learn how you can pl...
2022-02-1640 min
New Faces of DemocracyAlex Kramer of Knock for DemocracyOn this episode, Nancy speaks with Alex Kramer of Knock for Democracy. Alex is an actor/writer who discovered he had a talent for political organizing after the 2016 election. What started in a living room with a few dozen friends had grown by 2020 to more than 5,000 volunteers who had knocked on countless doors and dialed literally millions of numbers all in the name of, yes, democracy. Alex and I talk about how making the volunteer experience fun keeps people coming back for more; the power of community experience that feels joyous, connected and personal; and bringing back the lost...
2022-01-2639 minNew Faces of DemocracySeason 3 TrailerWelcome to Season 3 of the New Faces of Democracy podcast, hosted by Nancy Bynum. Are you pooped from too much politics and a polarizing pandemic? Season 3 of the podcast is here to help. Because to be an engaged citizen and to save our democracy, you don’t have to act like you're on cable news. Activism doesn’t have to be angry, depleting and exhausting. Activism can be uplifting and energizing. It can connect you with communities of like minded people who care about the things you care about. And if all you have is an hour or two a we...
2022-01-1301 minNew Faces of DemocracyMelody Barnes and Laurent Dubois of UVA’s Democracy InitiativeThis episode features Professors Melody Barnes and Laurent Dubois, co-directors of the Democracy Initiative at the University of Virginia. This interdisciplinary initiative brings together a diverse range of scholars, government leaders, practitioners and students to study the urgent challenges facing democracy today and advancing its prospects for the future. Nancy, Melody and Laurent discuss the threats to democracy from both Melody’s public policy and government background and Laurent’s historical perspective; the inherent conflict within democracies between disempowered groups voting for change and entrenched interests that seek to restrict access to the ballot; and while we have a lot...
2021-03-2445 minNew Faces of DemocracyManny Yekutiel on Coffee and DialogueThis episode features a conversation with Manny Yekutiel, founder of San Francisco phenomenon, Manny’s, a civic gathering space that brings people together for coffee, bagels and discourse. In this comfortable and friendly space, people gather for debates, to hear candidates like Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, and for something increasingly rare in our country today: dialogue. Nancy and Manny talk about how people are craving in-person experiences in an increasingly digital world; how to heal our political discord; and how to make politics fun, accessible and exciting. https://www.welcometomannys.com
2021-03-1733 minNew Faces of DemocracyEliza Nemser of Climate ChangemakersThis episode features a conversation with Eliza Nemser, an earth scientist who is worried about the earth. So worried, in fact, that she pivoted from science to politics to found Climate Changemakers, a group of concerned citizens who take meaningful action to elect climate candidates and advance climate policies. Eliza and Nancy talk about how we can’t science our way out of climate change, it’s a political issue; why her group is defiantly non-partisan; and what we can achieve when we carve out just one hour a week for productive, collective climate action.To learn more...
2021-03-1033 minNew Faces of DemocracyAlyse Nelson and Gayle Kabaker: Empowering Women at Vital VoicesThis episode features Alyse Nelson, President and CEO of Vital Voices, and renowned artist Gayle Kabaker, talking about their artistic collaboration in the name of women’s empowerment around the world. Self-described as "two crazy women with bold ideas," this dynamic duo came together to create a book and exhibition entitled “Vital Voices: 100 Women Using Their Power to Empower.” The project includes portraits of 100 global women leaders redefining power and celebrates Vital Voices’ mission to support women’s leadership to solve the world’s greatest challenges. Alyse, Gayle and Nancy talk about how women lead differently and how that leadership st...
2021-03-0339 minNew Faces of DemocracyElizabeth Fernandez of Movement Voter ProjectThis episode features a conversation with Elizabeth Fernandez of Movement Voter Project. Movement Voter Project is based on the ingenious concept of empowering local grassroots groups that work in and are trusted by their communities to bring home important wins for Democrats during elections. MVP provides local groups around the country with support and training and frees them up from time-consuming fundraising to focus on their important work helping and advocating for their neighbors. And when elections roll around, these organizers are perfectly positioned to get out the Democratic vote in ways that no outsider could replicate. MVP may...
2021-02-2431 minNew Faces of DemocracyKatie Michel of Victory Garden CollectiveThis episode of the podcast features a conversation with Katie Michel, owner of Planthouse Gallery in New York City and a member of Victory Garden Collective, a group of women artists using their craft to exercise their patriotic duty. While the group started in 2016 to support Hillary Clinton in anticipation of her victory, it morphed into an act of political resistance under Trump. Just as victory gardens in WWII provided sustenance and nurturing, so has the Victory Garden Collective in providing sustenance to both the artists and their audience during a challenging four years while nurturing the resistance through...
2021-02-1731 minNew Faces of DemocracyLisa Guide on the Caregiver VoteThis episode features a conversation with Lisa Guide, co-founder of the Women Effect Action Fund, a group dedicated to achieving economic equality for women in our country. Lisa and her colleagues have spent the last four years focused on turning out the caregiver vote, and thanks to them women came out in force to vote in this past election, motivated by care economy issues. These are working moms, who have silently struggled for decades to fulfill their historical caregiver roles while also holding down jobs, often as the primary wage earners in their homes. Lisa and Nancy talk about...
2021-02-1035 minNew Faces of DemocracyAditi Juneja of Protect DemocracyThis episode features a conversation with Aditi Juneja of Protect Democracy, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting efforts to undermine our right to free, fair, and fully informed self-government. In other words, while you spent the last four years calling your senator and phone banking, the superheroes at Protect Democracy have been doing nothing less than preventing our country from sliding into authoritarianism. Nancy and Aditi talk about the work the group did to protect the guardrails of democracy, what accountability should look like, and what changes we need in our government going forward to win back the...
2021-02-0336 minNew Faces of DemocracySeason 2 trailerWelcome to Season 2 of the New Faces of Democracy podcast, hosted by Nancy Bynum. In this season, Nancy will look back at the gains we have made in protecting our democracy, the healing and rebuilding that needs to take place, and an optimistic look ahead at the opportunities for real progress under the Biden administration. Join Nancy for inspiring conversations with people at the grassroots and the grasstops who are making this all happen, political newcomers and policy leaders alike, all of whom share a common goal of bringing us closer to a more perfect union and the America t...
2021-01-2702 minNew Faces of DemocracyMartha Shockey on the State of GeorgiaThis episode features a conversation with Martha Shockey of the grassroots political action group, Indivisible Georgia. A soft-spoken powerhouse, Martha talks about all the hard work that groups like hers put into Biden’s win in the state and what they are doing for the two Senate runoffs on January 5. Martha and Nancy discuss the tremendous hurdles created by the Republican’s sophisticated voter suppression tactics executed with surgical precision; how she and others are working to rebuild the Democratic infrastructure in a state that national Democrats had written off; and why it’s important for all of us to do...
2020-12-1637 minNew Faces of DemocracyCatherine Vaughan of Swing LeftOn this episode, Nancy welcomes Catherine Vaughan back to New Faces of Democracy. Catherine is Co-Executive Director of the Democratic political action group, Swing Left, and she was one of the first people Nancy profiled at New Faces of Democracy in 2018. Catherine and Nancy do an election debrief and discuss lessons learned this year. Catherine talks about all the progress we have made over the last four years and the work that remains, making democracy a habit, and reasons to be hopeful. She also tells us the most impactful ways we can help in the upcoming Georgia Senate runoff, no...
2020-12-0937 minNew Faces of DemocracyThe Sheriff Sequel: What Happened in the ElectionsNancy follows up on her conversation about sheriffs with Max Rose on Episode 13 of the podcast to explore what happened in the sheriff elections last month.Sources:https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/election-graham-north-carolina-protest/2020/11/01/beee5d8c-1c64-11eb-90dd-abd0f7086a91_story.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/2020/11/18/935873090/for-immigrants-election-promises-relief-from-an-atmosphere-of-terrorhttps://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/gwinnett-county-elects-its-first-black-sheriff-result-likely-means-gwinnett-will-end-participation-in/article_7c38ed66-1eaf-11eb-a288-2b0ea359bfce.htmlhttps://cobbcountycourier.com/2020/04/craig-owens-candidate-for-cobb-county-sheriff/https://www.advocate.com/election/2020/11/06/lesbian-running-sc-sheriff-defeats-male-boss-who-demoted-herhttps://www.vox.com/2020/11/17/21558400/sheriff-ice-north-carolina-georgia-287ghttps...
2020-12-0204 minNew Faces of DemocracyMike Berland on Polls, Momentum and What Just HappenedThis episode features a conversation with data and analytics expert and political polling thought leader Mike Berland. Mike is the founder & CEO of research, data, and analytics firm Decode M and is an expert on how people think and behave as voters and decision-makers. Mike has appeared extensively on national television to speak about elections, candidates, and business issues. He has served as a strategic advisor to politicians like Michael Bloomberg and Hillary Clinton. and MSNBC has called him a “genius pollster.” Mike has also recently authored the book, “Maximum Momentum.” Mike and I talk about how polls should really b...
2020-11-2531 minNew Faces of DemocracyGuest Pod: Democracy WorksThis week features a guest episode from Democracy Works, a podcast dedicated to answering the question “What Does it Mean to Live in a Democracy?”. Each week, the podcast examines a different aspect of democratic life, like voting, criminal justice or the free press. Produced by The McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State, Democracy Works showcases some of the finest academic minds studying these issues today. Like New Faces of Democracy, Democracy Works is focused on the role each of us can play in building and sustaining a healthy democracy. This episode features a fascinating discussion with Robert Liebe...
2020-11-1931 min
CausepodsPowerful Conversations with Nancy Bynum of the New Faces of Democracy PodcastNew Faces of Democracy features inspiring interviews with people who have transformed their lives since 2016 and are transforming our political landscape. These are not career politicians or former cabinet members, but ordinary citizens who are starting organizations, running for office for the first time, using their creative skills, and otherwise stepping outside their comfort zones to stand up for our democracy. Along the way, they are discovering new skills and talents and creating new communities. New Faces of Democracy elevates and celebrates these new faces, and in the process, will hopefully inspire you and maybe even galvanize you to...
2020-11-0223 minNew Faces of DemocracyMarcia Greenberger: Women’s Rights, Past, Present and FutureThis episode features a conversation with Marcia Greenberger, a true pioneer of women’s rights law through her work at the National Women’s Law Center in Washington DC. Marcia and Nancy speak about the early days of women’s rights law, the legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsberg and the path ahead for advancing women’s equality under the law. In the wake of Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s death, Marcia tells us what tools we still have at our disposal to keep up the fight and gives us hope for the future.
2020-10-2841 minNew Faces of DemocracyGordon Herr on How to VoteThis week’s episode goes local with Gordon Herr, Chairman of the Democratic Committee in Southampton NY, and member of the Board of Elections in Suffolk County, Long Island. Gordon demystifies the voting process for us and will help put your mind at ease about voting during a pandemic in this most crucial of elections. Gordon tells us everything we need to know about absentee ballots, early voting and more. New Yorkers, this one’s for you, but there’s plenty for others too as Gordon and Nancy talk about standardizing the voting process at the federal level, why to get...
2020-10-2131 minNew Faces of DemocracyTech for Campaigns: Bringing the Tech and Digital Edge to DemocratsThis episode features a conversation with Jessica Alter and Krisserin Canary of Tech for Campaigns. After Trump’s Muslim ban in 2017, tech entrepreneur Jessica Alter couldn’t take it anymore and asked a few of her fellow tech workers if they were interested in volunteering their skills to help Democratic campaigns, and Tech for Campaigns was born. Tech for campaigns is now the permanent tech and digital arm for Democrats, offering access to best-in-class talent with their 15,000 volunteers focusing on state races. Jessica and Krisserin, a state director in charge of flipping the Texas State House, talk to Nancy abou...
2020-10-1440 minNew Faces of DemocracyRavi Gupta: Changing the Face of PoliticsThis episode features a conversation with Ravi Gupta, an Obama alum, podcast host and founder of Arena, an organization that trains and supports the next generation of Democratic candidates and campaign staff. After working on Obama’s campaign and then administration, Ravi stepped away to start a network of schools in the south but jumped back into political action immediately after the 2016 election. At Arena, Ravi uses his political expertise to identify and support transformative new candidates outside of the traditional political establishment who reflect the diversity of our society. Then he does everything possible to help them win at...
2020-10-0737 minNew Faces of DemocracyKatie Paris of Red Wine & BlueOn this week’s episode, Nancy speaks with Katie Paris, founder of of Red Wine & Blue. Red Wine &Blue is an Ohio-based group that’s harnessing the political power of suburban women to save democracy while having a good time. Politics, fun and festive cocktails usually don’t go together but Red Wine & Blue is lightening up the conversation for women who don’t consider themselves political but also don’t want Trump to define them, thank you very much. Katie and Nancy talk about how the path to victory runs through suburbia, the power of personal networks and the joy we...
2020-09-3038 minNew Faces of DemocracyVernetta Alston and What’s on the Line in North CarolinaOn this episode, Nancy speaks with Vernetta Alston, a state legislator in North Carolina. In 2017, Vernetta pivoted from a career as a criminal defense attorney to run for public office on the Durham city council. She was then appointed to fill an empty seat in the North Carolina General Assembly last spring and now she is in the enviable position of being an unopposed incumbent in her race. Vernetta and Nancy talk about the state of the state in North Carolina, home of the Bathroom Bill and extreme partisan gerrymandering, and Vernetta explains what’s at stake if Republicans ke...
2020-09-2323 minNew Faces of DemocracyMax Rose of Sheriffs for Trusting CommunitiesToday’s podcast features a conversation with Max Rose, founder of Sheriffs for Trusting Communities. Imagine a law enforcement officer with vast power and authority, little accountability and no meaningful term limits. That’s called a sheriff. It’s an elected position, but many of us do not look far enough down the ballot or even know enough to cast a vote. Nationwide, sheriffs make 2 million arrests every year, they control our jails and they have immense power in the civil arena as well when it comes to things like evictions, gun permits and civil asset forfeitures. Max and Nancy...
2020-09-1627 minNew Faces of DemocracyDesiree Tims, Running for Change in OhioOn this episode, Nancy speaks with Desiree Tims, a young congressional candidate in Ohio’s 10th district. There are a lot of firsts when it comes to Desiree. This is her first time running for office, she is the first member of her family to graduate from a four year college, and if elected, she would be the first African American AND the first woman to represent this district. The southwest corner of Ohio in many ways presents a microcosm of the issues plaguing our country -- with skilled but unemployed or underemployed former steel workers, a crumbling infrastructure an...
2020-09-0936 minNew Faces of DemocracyDr. Fergie Reid Jr. on the Strategy To Flip Florida Blue, Part 2This episode of the podcast features Part 2 of the Flipping Florida Series with Dr. Fergie Reid, Jr. Dr. Reid talks about the strategy for flipping the state and its 29 electoral college votes blue, based on the work spearheaded by him and his father in Virginia, helping to flip that state in 2019. He explains the simple and intuitive concept, which is to register more voters and run candidates in every race, and why this strategy has been historically underutilized by Democrats. We talk about how Florida is ripe for the picking, with its many races in red districts uncontested by D...
2020-08-2630 minNew Faces of DemocracySo what I’m hearing is… Walls of MomsNancy takes a break from the podcast to muse on the army of mothers powering the resistance.
2020-08-1903 minNew Faces of DemocracySara Trail: Quilter, WarriorThis episode features a conversation with Sara Trail, founder of Social Justice Sewing Academy, an organization that provides young people in marginalized communities with free workshops to make textile art about social justice issues. You might think of quilters as little old ladies in rockers, but this fierce, young warrior will upend all your notions of what can be achieved through the artistic expression of quilting. The young makers use fabric, needle and thread in decidedly un-old lady-like ways to create arresting images where they can protest injustice and advocate for social change, giving them the chance to be...
2020-08-1236 minNew Faces of DemocracySo what I’m hearing is… Chipping Away at the MarginsIn this bonus episode, Nancy talks about four groups focused on chipping away at the margins in key, battleground states to beat Trump this November: 140 Florida Blue Project, Galvanize USA, Vote Values and American Bridge.
2020-08-0506 minNew Faces of DemocracyZak Malamed of The Next 50 on the Youth VoteIn 2018, Zak Malamed was living the millennial dream with a job at Facebook. But after coming home from a trip to Auschwitz to images on CNN of internment camps on the Mexican border, he decided he could no longer sit on the sidelines and he needed to do something that felt more purposeful. Since then, he has founded The Next 50, a group focused on helping young people harness their grassroots political powers through political giving. Zak and Nancy discuss how political giving and proximity to power can engage young voters in the political process, how Democrats need to catch...
2020-07-2931 minNew Faces of DemocracyHow to Flip Florida BlueJanelle Christensen is a professor and head of the Florida Democratic Environmental Caucus. Margie Stein is a political activist who has found her niche in fundraising for Florida state races. Together, this dynamic duo are spearheading an effort to turn Florida blue by taking a page out of the Virginia playbook that helped flip that state in 2019. Their program, called 140 Florida Blue Project, has recruited democratic candidates to run in all 33 of Florida’s state legislature races in which the Republican candidate had been running unopposed. We talk about why it matters to chip away at the margins in re...
2020-07-2226 minNew Faces of DemocracySo what I’m hearing is… thoughts on creative activismIn this week’s bonus episode, Nancy talks about trends in creative activism she’s been hearing about.
2020-07-1504 minNew Faces of DemocracyDiana Weymar, Tiny Pricks and the Art of ProtestThis week’s podcast features a conversation with artist Diana Weymar of Tiny Pricks Project. Diana is a textile artist who one day in 2018 had the impulse to embroider the words “I am a stable genius” onto an old piece of her grandmother’s needlework, and Tiny Pricks was born. Now Tiny Pricks is a public textile-based protest project with hundreds of participants around the world and 56,000 followers on instagram. Nancy and Diana talk about the importance of preserving Trump’s language and transforming it into something beautiful in protest, the therapeutic benefits of doing this work, learning to stay prese...
2020-07-0835 minNew Faces of DemocracyMark Bergman and the View From Across the PondThis week I’m speaking with Mark Bergman, a lawyer and Democrat based in London, who since 2017 has been keeping his fellow Democrats abroad engaged in the political process here at home through conference calls with candidates, elected officials and democracy groups. Mark’s calls have featured sitting senators, state attorneys general, candidates for the House and Senate, and other prominent American political figures like James Comey and James Carville. With an audience maxing out in the double digits, the calls provide a relatively intimate opportunity for listeners to hear from and ask questions of these Americans who have step...
2020-07-0131 minNew Faces of DemocracySo what I’m hearing is…. Thoughts on Down Ballot ElectionsAlmost two months into the podcast, Nancy takes a break to muse on one theme that's been coming up a lot in her interviews: the importance of state and local elections.
2020-06-2603 minNew Faces of DemocracyStacy Kramer on Fundraising DemocraticallyThis episode features Hollywood writer and producer Stacy Kramer who since 2016 has become a tireless fundraiser for Democratic candidates and grassroots groups. Stacy talks about how to make Democratic fundraisers more democratic, how her creative skills as a writer and her noodgy skills as a producer have benefitted her, and why making people feel included and engaged in the process is just as important as raising money. Listen for Stacy’s ideas on how to host successful fundraisers and creative ways to make them fun on Zoom.
2020-06-1737 minNew Faces of DemocracySusan Rogan: Librarian/Grandmother/ActivistOn this episode of the podcast, Nancy has a conversation with Susan Rogan, founder of the political action newsletter Rogan’s List. A self-proclaimed “retired grandmother in a recliner,” Susan is also an activist icon thanks to her newsletter that has been dropping into inboxes since two days after the 2016 election. Having spent her career as an academic librarian, Susan talks about how she puts her organizational and research skills to use in a new way with the newsletter. Susan and Nancy also talk about new opportunities in activism created by the pandemic, the joy she gets from helping people...
2020-06-1019 minNew Faces of DemocracyAlex Posen on the Power of DesignThis podcast features a conversation with Alex Posen, co-founder of Resistance by Design, a company that designs accessories and products that allow you to tastefully and professionally express your political opinions. Alex knows beautiful design, having been creative director of her brother Zac Posen’s fashion line. Alex talks about the power of wearing your political beliefs on your sleeve, the therapeutic benefits of being a creative activist, and how having more women in government will save the world.
2020-06-0323 minNew Faces of DemocracySamra Brouk: The Future of LeadershipOn this episode of the podcast, Nancy has a conversation with Samra Brouk, who is running for state senate in upstate New York. Up until now, Samra’s career has been in public service, seeing the impact of government policies on people’s lives up close, and now she wants to use that insight as a lawmaker helping to craft those policies. Samra talks about finding common ground among the voters in her diverse district, the importance of nurturing political talent in state legislatures and the effect of Covid-19 on the issues people are facing today. Samra also gives her...
2020-05-2726 minNew Faces of DemocracyMelissa Walker of Future Now on Why States MatterWelcome to the New Faces of Democracy podcast. This episode features a conversation with Melissa Walker of Future Now Fund, a group started in 2017 dedicated to electing more Democrats to our state legislatures and supporting them with policy expertise once they’re in office. Melissa talks about how to be most impactful with your activism, what it means to take down a Republican supermajority, and why state legislatures are where it’s at if you want to transform American politics and improve people’s lives. Melissa also discusses the power of giving circles, building community and how you can join i...
2020-05-0637 minNew Faces of DemocracyWelcome to the New Faces of DemocracyWelcome to the New Faces of Democracy podcast, hosted by Nancy Bynum.This podcast features inspiring interviews with people who have transformed their lives since 2016 and who are transforming our political landscape. These are not career politicians or former cabinet members, but ordinary citizens who are starting organizations, running for office for the first time, using their creative skills and otherwise stepping outside of their comfort zones to stand up for our democracy. Along the way, they are discovering new skills and talents and creating new communities.Nancy felt her own personal call to action...
2020-05-0102 min
First Draft with Sarah EnniKnife Crime Mattress Apartment with Miranda PopkeyFirst Draft Episode #230: Miranda Popkey Miranda Popkey, essayist and debut author of Topics of Conversation. The presenting sponsor for this episode is The Slow Novel Lab, a six-week online writing and creativity course developed and taught by bestselling and award-winning novelist Nina LaCour (listen to her First Draft episodes here and here). The next six-week session of The Slow Novel Lab begins on February 16th, and you can enroll today by going to NinaLaCour.com. This episode was brought to you in part by Adeline’s Aria by Laynie Bynum, the first in her new In...
2020-01-2853 min
It's Not A FairytaleSh*t We're Trying to do 2019 ........Teach Our Children Black HistoryWe're wrapping up our, "Shit We're Trying to do 2019" series with teaching our little ones black history. "Love After Lock Up" and "Seeking A Sister Wife", will also be recapped.
Fairy Topic: "How to Teach Your Kids (& Yourself) About Black History Month"
Books we discussed:
"I'm A Pretty Little Black Girl!", Betty K Bynum
"Little Leaders Bold Women In Black History", Vashti Harrison
"Martin Luther King Jr." Marion Dane Bauer
"A Kids Guide To African American History", Nancy I. Sanders
Docu-series by Henry Louis Gates: "Africa's Great Civilations", "The African Americans, Many Rivers to Cross", "Black America Since MLK", "Black in L...
2019-02-011h 18