Celebrate with some of our best episodes this year

After a year full of twists and turns, we wrap up 2024 with our Best of 2024 series, which features episodes on the most important issues we covered this year at The Democracy Group.

We invited podcast hosts from our network to share their favorite episodes and why these conversations stood out from the many others they released this year.

Whether diving into the rise of violent, far-right extremism or looking at ensuring how tax dollars are used responsibly, these episodes help you understand what's broken in our democracy and how everyday people are working together to fix it.

From our entire team, happy holidays and we'll see you in 2025!

Listen to the Best of 2024 episodes

Bad Watchdog: The Real Threat

The season finale breaks down the current landscape of terrorism in the United States where homegrown, violent extremists pose the most dangerous threat.

"It's focused on how domestic violent far-right extremism has taken over and not only infiltrated the country but also the ranks of the very agency that's supposed to be protecting us from it — the Department of Homeland Security," said Maren Machles, host of Bad Watchdog.

Village SquareCast: After Babel: The Fragmentation of Everything

The episode previews how social media has affected democratic societies and discusses social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt's new book The Fragmentation of Everything.

"It was our favorite because we have come to know and work with Dr. Haidt for more than a decade and we think that he's contributing to making this world a less divisive place," said Liz Joyner, founder of The Village Square.

Democracy Works: How to Combat Political Extremism

Guest Cynthia Miller-Idriss discussed how extremism and political violence are linked to our desire for community in this episode.

"We still have a lot of deep division and a need for social cohesion. I think this conversation gives us some concrete ideas of how we can move forward to build resiliency for our democracy in the long run," said Jenna Spinelle, host of Democracy Works.

Future Hindsight: End Climate Silence: Genevieve Guenther

Genevieve Guenther, founding director of End Climate Silence and affiliate faculty at The New School, joined host Mila Atmos to discuss deepening our understanding of the climate crisis. Guenther also touched on the urgent need for decarbonization and our role in speaking the truth about phasing out fossil fuels, as well as her most recent book, The Language of Climate Politics: Fossil-Fuel Propaganda and How to Fight It.

The Great Battlefield: Ambitions for ActBlue with Regina Wallace-Jones

ActBlue is a nonprofit fundraising platform for progressives that's driven by the belief that our democracy works better when more people participate in civic life. Host Nathaniel Pearlman chats with ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Jones about her career in tech, politics and business and where she wants to take the tool in the future.

An Honorable Profession: City Controller Rachel Heisler works as the City’s Watchdog

Host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Pittsburgh, PA, City Controller Rachael Heisler about the responsibilities of a city controller, most notably how she ensures tax dollars are used responsibly and effectively.

"They cover the nuts and bolts of budget management and fiscal oversight, but more than that, they have an honest conversation about what it means to lead," said Rachel Walsh, producer of An Honorable Profession.

Democracy Decoded: The Latest: A Postelection Fight for Democracy

Campaign Legal Center leaders Trevor Potter, Paul M. Smith and Bruce Spiva joined this episode to offer their forecasts for the uncertain years ahead and explain what this election signifies about the health of American democracy.

"Voters have chosen a president who has repeatedly demonstrated the tendency towards dictatorial and authoritarian governance. Our focus now as democracy advocates is on the future — there's hard work to do and CLC is here to do it," said Simone Leeper, host of Democracy Decoded.