New Faces of Democracy brings conversations with modern-day heroes to The Democracy Group

We're excited to welcome the newest addition to The Democracy Group: New Faces of Democracy — a series of conversations with modern-day heroes and regular citizens from all walks of life who are using their talents and skills to transform the political landscape.‍

‍To officially welcome this amazing podcast to our network, we caught up with host Nancy Bynum about New Faces of Democracy, what inspired her to start the podcast and some reflections from the latest season.‍

‍What inspired you to start New Faces of Democracy?

‍‍Nancy: When I first started a Facebook political action group where everyone takes daily action, I noticed there were so many organizations and recently activated people who were doing really interesting things to stand up for democracy. So I thought it would be cool to talk to those people, learn their stories and help other people stay inspired, galvanized and engaged. That’s what got me here.

I’m hoping people get even more involved than just talking. I hope they support these organizations that I profile, whether with their time or their treasure. I hope that maybe they start thinking about a group of their own. Anybody can do it.

‍What makes season 5 of New Faces of Democracy different from previous seasons?‍

‍Nancy: Every season reflected the zeitgeist and the zeitgeist right now is pretty dark — people are suffering. The theme for this season is how not to be an ostrich, so ways to engage that feel personally meaningful, and most of all doing it through community, despite fighting every instinct you have to just stick your head in the sand and not deal.

It’s been so important to me and my political journey and helping people discover communities that are going to work for them. There’s a ripple effect to every small thing we do and we may feel impotent about what’s going on in the White House but we can do one small thing for a group in our community.

New Faces of Democracy: Jess Craven of Chop Wood Carry Water

This 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.

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This is Jessie Nguyen, The Democracy Group's Community Manager. Here are some of my favorite podcasts this week, check them out!

An Honorable Profession: How to Fix the Housing Crisis with New Jersey Senator Troy Singleton

New Jersey Senator Troy Singleton joined host Ryan Coonerty to discuss housing initiatives among other public policies and navigating challenges around affordable housing. Singleton also shares his journey to working in the government and looks into the public mood in New Jersey following the recent elections.

How Do We Fix It?: Braver Faith: Building Bridges with Respect Not Agreement

Braver Faith, a civic group with Braver Angels, is led by faith leaders from many religious backgrounds and beliefs to develop educational tools that bridge political division. Guest Rev. Mark Beckwith joined the episode to discuss the group's mission and principles and the role faith plays in tackling polarization.

Democracy Fix: Who You Gonna Call: How Preparation Powers Election Resilience ft. Michelle Hawley

Guest Michelle Hawley, director of the Milwaukee County Election, took listeners behind the scenes to the planning and partnerships that ensure democracy isn't disrupted. Hawley also shared her career path in public service and election administration and insights on running smooth elections.

FEATURED EXPERTS

Let's Find Common Ground: Becky Pringle on Public Schools: Talking Across the Divide.

Becky Pringle is president of the National Education Association. She is a campaigner for social justice, a defender of educator rights and an advocate for all students and communities of color. Pringle has more than three decades of classroom experience as a middle school science teacher. Previously, she served as NEA vice president and secretary-treasurer.

TPNR: Julie Mason on Sussing out Excellent Journalism from All the Crap

Julie Mason is an American journalist and host of "The Julie Mason Show" on SiriusXM's POTUS channel. Before joining SiriusXM, Mason was a White House reporter at POLITICO, the Washington Examiner and the Houston Chronicle. She was a 2014 recipient of the Gracie Award from the Alliance for Women in Media for outstanding achievement as a radio talk show host.