This week we bring you a special episode from Kayla Anderson, one of our 2024 Podcast Fellows.

Kayla Anderson is a 3rd year Political Science major on the pre-law track. She currently serves as the vice president of the Undergraduate Black Law Student Association, treasurer of the Minority Collegiate Outreach and Support Team, and DEI committee co-chair for her Law and Society Scholars Program. Outside of school, she often volunteers with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus which provides free legal services for low-income Columbus residents. She began exploring podcasts during covid and quickly grew to enjoy this new medium. She looks forward to participating in this fellowship as it will allow her to navigate an unfamiliar platform and use it to discuss topics that she is very passionate about.

Know a student interested in democracy and podcasts? Send them over to our fellowship to apply: https://www.democracygroup.org/fellowship

This week we bring you a special episode from Virginia Jones, one of our 2024 Podcast Fellows.

Virginia Jones is a student at the University of South Carolina majoring in Public Relations with a minor in Political Science. A few years ago, she discovered her interest in politics, particularly in political media, and decided to incorporate this passion into her education. When searching for a way to approach political issues, she found podcasts to be the best form because these dialogues helped her understand nuanced and complex political conversations better than any other method of consumption. She is excited about the potential of podcasting to facilitate meaningful discussions, bridge divides, and foster positive change in our democracy.

Know a student interested in democracy and podcasts? Send them over to our fellowship to apply: https://www.democracygroup.org/fellowship

This week we bring you a special episode from Aprile Kim, one of our 2024 Podcast Fellows.

Aprile Kim is a third year student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor pursuing a double major in Political Science and Philosophy and a double minor in Japanese and International Studies, with a thematic focus on International Security, Norms, and Cooperation. She is the proud daughter of first-generation Korean immigrants to the unincorporated U.S. territory of Guam, from which her roots have instilled in her a strong passion and demands for American politics and its implications for democracy - or rather the version it attempts to function as today. What particularly draws her to the work ofThe Democracy Group is the organization's ability to give voices to marginalized communities, and she intends on leveraging this fellowship opportunity to exemplify the shortcomings of democracy in U.S. territories as her home island of Guam, breaches in the fundamental concept of the democratic system that are hidden away from the eyes of national politics under the guise of colonialism. Biba Guahån!

Know a student interested in democracy and podcasts? Send them over to our fellowship to apply: https://www.democracygroup.org/fellowship

Kelly has worked in nonprofits for many years. She has served in some capacity as a volunteer, board member, or development staff member for over twenty-eight years after teaching middle schoolers in Southern Appalachia. In addition to a BS in education from Appalachian State University, she holds a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University. While new to election administration, she is not new to elections. Kelly served on several local and state election campaigns as a volunteer, including state senate campaigns in 2006, 2008, and 2010 where she served as the assistant campaign manager and public relations liaison. Kelly has spent the past three years learning about RCV reform and election administration. She oversees fundraising, development, and communications for RCVRC and co-produces the RCV Clips podcast with Chris Hughes & Melissa Hall. Kelly lives with her family on the coast of North Carolina.

To learn more about ranked choice voting and the Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center, visit rcvresource.org.

To read the full Q&A with Kelly Sechrist, visit https://www.democracygroup.org/blog/meet-kelly-sechrist-from-rcv-clips

Bill Weir is CNN’s Chief Climate Correspondent and the author of Life As We Know It (Can Be). We discuss Carbon Godzilla, decarbonization, and the many existing and accessible technologies to mitigate climate change.

Decarbonization must start with big industry, but there are many ways for individuals to make a difference, too. Clean energy can be had with tax incentives, reducing costs for consumers. Energy efficient homes – passive houses and innovations in heating and cooling – reduce or even eliminate monthly energy bills. At the same time, utility and power companies in the US function as legal monopolies whose primary incentive is to build more infrastructure and raise rates. Fossil fuel companies – despite being the most profitable companies in human history – are still getting billions in direct and indirect subsidies.

Follow Bill on X:

https://twitter.com/BillWeirCNN

Follow Mila on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/milaatmos

The Democracy Group listener survey

Future Hindsight Podcast

More shows from The Democracy Group

Unlike the vast majority of journalists who cover American politics, Salena Zito lives far away from the centers of power and wealth. She writes about small-town America and the parts of the country that much of the media doesn’t cover. Zito's commitment to understanding the heartland of America is evident in her frequent trips along the nation’s back roads. She drives thousands of miles, avoiding interstates and major cities, to grasp the pulse of rural and small-town America
Her insights about American voters are especially valuable in this election year. In this podcast, we learn why so many people who live in rural and small-town America support Donald Trump and the populist coalition that reshaped the Republican Party.
Salena Zito writes columns and reports on politics for the Washington Examiner, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, and the New York Post. She is coauthor of "The Great Revolt: Inside the Populist Coalition Reshaping American Politics.”

The Democracy Group listener survey

Let's Find Common Ground Podcast

More shows from The Democracy Group

Please join us in welcoming a special guest host for this episode! Cyanne Loyale is Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at Penn State and a Global Fellow at the Pease Research Institute Oslo. Her research focuses on transitional justice and democratic rebuilding after conflict, which makes her the perfect person to reflect on South Africa's democratic transition.

One additional programming note — Chris Beem lost power during this recording so the closing segment is Cyanne and Jenna reflecting on the interview.

At the end of April, South Africa marked the 30th anniversary of its first post-Apartheid election — the first in the country where everyone could vote. South African writer and scholar Antjie Krog join us for a look at the state of South African democracy today, the impact of the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and how South Africa has served as a model for other countries in democratic transition.

Krog is a South African writer, scholar, and activist. She covered the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the South African Broadcasting Corporation and wrote about the experience in the book Country of My Skull. She has published more than a dozen volumes of poetry and translated Nelson Mandela's biography into Afrikaans. She is currently a professor at the University of the Western Cape.

The Democracy Group listener survey

Democracy Works Podcast

More shows from The Democracy Group

We all have opinions. And there are more ways than ever to voice those opinions. But before expressing those opinions, have we really taken the time to understand the complexity of any given issue? More specifically, have we taken the time to speak with and consider the views of folks who are on the “other side” of that issue?

In this edition, we’ll be looking at the widespread phenomenon of campus protests across the country and the world. The initial plan was to compare campus protesters to January 6th insurrectionists; but instead, it was more valuable to explore the topic more thoughtfully, aiming to avoid fueling conflicts. So we examine diverse aspects of protests, including their objectives, the media's focus on sensational aspects (“nut picking”), and the potential ineffectiveness of disruptive tactics as well as the historical record that indicates how many such protests ultimately did more harm than good to their own cause. It was helpful to share the personal account from a friend who participated in peaceful demonstrations, offering insights into the protesters' perspectives and demands. We also review the importance of understanding and respecting the rights to free speech and assembly while considering reasonable restraints on those rights such as “time, place and manner” restrictions, as well as the impacts of protests on broader society. More broadly, it’s important to emphasize the need for balanced and informed conversations around contentious issues, advocating for empathy and open-mindedness in evaluating differing viewpoints.

01:31 A Deep Dive into Campus Protests;

05:58 Exploring the Other Side: Conversations with a Protest Participant;

07:43 Understanding the Demands and Goals of Campus Protests;

11:04 Reflecting on Free Speech and Its Complexities;

27:45 The Role of Universities in Nurturing Democracy;

35:26 Concluding Thoughts and Encouragement for Dialogue

The Democracy Group listener survey

Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other Podcast

More shows from The Democracy Group