Run For Something – Details, episodes & analysis

In the final episode of the Run for Something podcast, Amanda and co-founder Ross Morales Rocketto dig in on how to run for office. They answer questions like how to know which office to run for, what dooms a campaign, and why it matters for people like you to get involved. To learn more about Run for Something (the organization), check out runforsomething.net or learn more about the book at runforsomething.net/book. We're here to help.

Produced by Dear Media.

First, a programming note: Next week will be the last episode of this podcast! Then, a conversation with Elsa Mejia, an Indigenous Mexican woman, bilingual journalist and communications specialist for a local union who turned her community roots into community leadership. We talk about running for office as an introvert, how she overcame partisanship to connect with her community, and what surprised her most throughout this process.

Produced by Dear Media.

First, a sneak preview of an exciting initiative launching today! Then: Justin Tseng grew up in Medford -- a small town outside Boston. Now as a senior at Harvard (and at only 21 years old!) he's running for city council to help lead the city he loves into the next phase of its growth. We talk about his experience campaigning and balancing a full load of classes, the way voters respond to him, and what his vision is for Medford. Listen in and help his campaign: justin4medford.com

Produced by Dear Media.

Sheila Nezhad has a long history of activism and serving her community of Minneapolis. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the city (and the world) erupted in an unprecedented uprising for Black lives -- Sheila was in the center of it, working with the city government to reimagine public safety, helping create the charter amendment that's now on the ballot and would disband Minneapolis police and instead create a Department of Public Safety. The incumbent mayor failed to deliver on the promise of his election, so Sheila decided someone who was willing to represent the people ought to lead them. Now she's running for mayor in one of the biggest elections of 2021. Learn more about her campaign at sheilaforthepeople.com

Produced by Dear Media.

Dontaye Carter is running for mayor of Sandy Springs, GA, a city just outside Atlanta -- his opponent is the former chair of the Georgia Republican Party. Sandy Springs has changed a lot over the last decade, but its leadership hasn't -- it's time for a new voice. Learn more about Dontaye's campaign at dontayeformayor.com

Produced by Dear Media.

Elizabeth Wanczak first started caring about local government by watching the city planning meetings on public access television. (She admits, it was sometimes about as boring as watching paint dry.) But the more she watched, the more she understood what was happening and what could be fixed. When a dear friend who'd been pushing her to run for office suddenly passed away, she decided it was time to get in the game. She ran and lost by just 182 votes -- now she's running again for Alderman of district 4 in Franklin, Tennessee, and she's going to win. Help her campaign at https://liz4alderman.com/.

Produced by Dear Media.

For our 50th week of podcasting (and 51st episode, whoops!), Amanda and Run for Something co-founder Ross Morales Rocketto check in to talk about their thoughts on the Biden administration and what RFS has been up to this year, then answer a few questions from listeners, including which episodes have been their favorites, what they're most excited about this November, and some hot tips for listeners who might be considering a run for office.   To be on an episode of Run for Something, leave us a message at (833) 244-5382.   Produced by Dear Media.

Dr. Aditi Srivastav Bussels never thought she'd run for office -- she got multiple degrees in public health to try and take care of people. But when the pandemic started, she realized exactly how critical her perspective would be in city government. Now she's running for Columbia City Council in South Carolina. We talk about her experience becoming a candidate, what it's like running as a South Asian woman in a southern city, the role of city government in public health, and whether or not she's having any fun. Learn more about her campaign at aditiforthecity.com

Produced by Dear Media.

School boards and Florida have both been in the news lately - so we talked with Broward County School Board member Sarah Leonardi about what's going on in her community. Sarah was a public school teacher who got her start in politics by volunteering on another local campaign. She ran and won in 2020 and at 31, became the youngest member of the school board in the midst of the pandemic. Over her first year on the board, she's dealt with critical race theory, mask mandates, equity policies, protecting trans kids, and more (on top of the normal school governance issues.) Now she's in a fight against the governor about keeping kids safe during the worst wave of the pandemic yet. You can follow her on Twitter at @SarahMKLeonardi.

Produced by Dear Media.

Jordan Acker was a University of Michigan alum and lawyer working hard and raising a family when he went through a health scare that landed him in the UM hospital system. That experience made him realize just how important the university was to the state -- which led him to ultimately running for the Board of Regents to help govern it. When he won in 2018, he became the first Regent to graduate from the university in this century. Since taking office, he's helped raise the minimum wage, expanded free college to thousands of Michiganders, made it easier for employees to unionize, and changed sexual assault reporting standards for the first time since 1996. Learn more then follow Jordan on Twitter at @JordanAckerMI   And remember - if you have questions or comments, give us a call at 833-244-5382 and you might appear on our 50th episode in a couple weeks!   Produced by Dear Media.