The New Politics Podcast Episode 24: Dr. David Myles

Dr. David Myles is a medical doctor, Navy vet, and father currently serving his first term as a City Counselor in Rockville, MD.  In this episode, he talks about his decision to become a pediatrician, his service in the Navy doing humanitarian medical work, and now his experiences as a politician. He is also African American, and describes his experience being stopped by police while knocking on doors during his campaign. Since our conversation happened in the days before Martin Luthor King Jr. Day in 2022, Dr. Myles shares his reflections on the state of MLKs dream at this complicated moment for our country.

He is an amazing servant leader and we are thrilled to lift up his voice on this episode!

The New Politics Podcast Episode 23: Juana Matias

Juana Matias is a first-generation American who moved with her family to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic when she was five years old.  She went on to become the first Latina ever elected to the serve in the Massachusetts State House, and in 2018 ran for Congress in a crowded field of candidates vying to fill the seat that opened up when long-term Congresswoman Niki Tsongas announced that she was not running for re-election.  Juana ultimately lost that race, but she greatly outperformed expectations by coming in third out of thirteen candidates.  Along the way, she demonstrated that a woman of color from a working-class background could be a viable Congressional candidate here in Massachusetts.

Juana is a trailblazer and amazing servant leader, and in this episode she discusses her path to politics, how she stayed resilience while daily challenging assumptions about what is possible for a woman of color in politics, and how she stays so powerfully grounded in her purpose.

The New Politics Podcast Episode 22: Jess Lieberman

Jess Lieberman spent the last two and half years working as a Senior Campaign Advisor here at New Politics. In that role, she spent her days advising many of the servant leaders in our network as they ran for office at every level from school board to Congress.

Jess began her professional life as a lawyer, until 2016 when she got involved in a friend's political campaign in her hometown of Somerville, MA.  She loved the experience, and that led to the choice to leave the law to pursue a Masters of Public Administration at Harvard, and then she went on to run campaigns for state senator and Lieutenant Governor candidates here in Massachusetts.  In 2019, she joined the team here at New Politics and began advising our candidates.

On this episode, Jess discusses her own path to politics, what she has learned through years of advising servant leader candidates, and how Leslie Knope from Parks and Rec has been a source of inspiration!

The New Politics Podcast Episode 21: Reflecting on Veterans Day 2021

In honor of Veteran's Day 2021, we invited four of the veterans in our community to reflect on what this day means to them and what they hope it means to their fellow Americans.

In this episode, we hear from Elis Salamone, a vet who served for 27 years including tours with the Army and later the Air Force;  Mary Tobin, a West Point graduate who served ten years in the Army including 2 tours in Iraq;  Nathan Jester, a Naval Academy graduate who went on to serve for seven years as a Marine Corps infantry officer;  and Dan Moy, a 27 year Air Force vet. All four of these remarkable servant leaders have served as facilitators in our Answering the Call program, and we are excited to lift up their voices and perspectives on this special episode dedicated to reflecting on the meaning of Veterans Day 2021.

The New Politics Podcast Episode 20: Reflecting on September 11th (special)

This year marks the 20th anniversary since the attacks of September 11th.  In this special episode, we invite several servant leaders from our community to reflect on how the events of that day impacted their lives, and what this anniversary means for the nation.  Guests include Congressman and Marine Corps vet Seth Moulton (D-MA); Congressman and Marine Corps vet Mike Gallagher (R-WI), and recent Senate candidate and Air Force vet Amy McGrath.  We also hear from Doug Mills, the Pulitzer-Prize winning photographer who was covering President George W. Bush that morning in 2001 in the moments when the planes crashed into the towers.  

Seth, Mike and Amy are all members of their generation who answered the call to serve in combat in the years after 9/11, and have since decided to serve again through politics.  We are honored to share their perspective on what this 20th anniversary means and how we can honor the sacrifices of all those who have served since 2001 in the years ahead.

Finally, we note that applications for two programs offered by the New Politics Leadership Academy are currently open.  Answering the Call is for servant leaders wondering if they feel called to serve again through politics, and Staffing School is for anyone interested in working as a campaign staffer.  Learn more here: https://www.newpoliticsacademy.org/our-programs

The New Politics Podcast Episode 19: Adam DeMarco

Adam DeMarco is a West Point grad and army veteran who served multiple combat tours in Iraq during his five years of active duty in the Army.  After the 2016 election, he felt called to serve again through politics, and entered the arena to run for Congress in 2018, ultimately losing the primary to John Sarbanes.  In the years since leaving the Army, Adam has stayed involved with the National Guard. He was serving as a liaison between the National Guard and the Park Police in Lafayette Square outside the White House on June 1st, 2020.  That was the day that the Park Police used force on peaceful protesters to clear a path for the President to take a photo holding a bible in front of a church on the other side of the square.  Deeply disturbed by what he saw, Adam became the whistleblower who testified before congress to challenge the administration’s version of events.

In this episode, Adam talks about what he learned about leadership from the Army and what it was like trying to lead with integrity as a political candidate, and he shares his advice on how to cultivate the courage and integrity that led him to step out as a whistleblower.

The New Politics Podcast Episode 18: Rebecca Perkins Kwoka

Meet Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, the first openly LGBTQ+ candidate elected to a state-level seat in New Hampshire. Her state-level win came after two terms on the Portsmouth City Council, where she was a fierce advocate for workforce and affordable housing issues.

Rebecca has a fascinating background. She grew up in Exeter New Hampshire, where her family owned the local Dairy Queen. Rebecca grew up working there, and continued working there up to 30 hours a week even when she was enrolled at Phillips Exeter Academy, the elite private school in town.  She went on to serve in the Peace Corps in Senegal, where she spent two years supporting small businesses, before getting a law degree.

In this interview, Rebecca talks about her unique upbringing, what she learned about leadership from her time in the Peace Corps, and what it was like to be the first openly LGBTQ+ woman elected to the New Hampshire State Senate.

The New Politics Podcast Episode 17: Aaron Bos-Lun

Aaron Bos-Lun is an alum of both City Year and Teach for America who is currently the Executive Director of the Miami-Dade Trail Lawyers Association.  In recent years, Aaron has dedicated his energies to serving through politics. He has worked on multiple political campaigns, serving as a strategist and operative for Shannon del Prado, Dr. Nancy Lawther, Representative Dotie Joseph, Congresswoman Donna Shalala, and his own mother, Michelle Bos-Lun, who ran successfully to become a State Representative in Vermont.  He also served on the LGBTQ Victory Fund Campaign Board, helping to elect LGBTQ candidates in all 50 states.

In this episode, we discuss his family's long history of involvement in service to the nation, his personal experiences launching a Gay-Straight Alliance and then coming out as gay to his students as a teacher at a Miami high school, and how his service experiences have informed his approach to politics. 

Aaron is a remarkable servant leader, and we are excited to lift up his voice and his experiences on this Pride month episode of our podcast.  

The New Politics Podcast Episode 16: Beach Pace

Meet Beach Pace: West Point grad, Army vet, and non-profit CEO who currently serves as a member of the Hillsboro City Council in Hillsboro, Oregon.  Beach served in the Ordinance Branch of the U.S. Army, where she led teams that defused bombs around the world, and she was involved in State Department security operations for the U.S. President, Vice President, Secretary of State, and other senior political leaders.

After her military service, Beach spent nine years in the corporate sector, where she led high-performing sales teams in the Pharmaceutical industry.  She then transitioned into the social change sector, becoming the Executive Director of City Year San Jose, an AmeriCorps program focused on keeping students in high-need schools in school and on track to graduate.  She currently serves as the CEO of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Columbia Northwest.  

Beach is a proud member of the LGBTQAI+ community, and in this discussion talks about what it was like to serve in the military in the era of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", and what it's like to run for political office as a Queer woman.  

Beach is amazing servant leader, and we’re thrilled to lift up her voice on this Pride month episode of our podcast.

The New Politics Podcast Episode 15: Sri Kulkarni

Meet Sri Preston Kulkarni, the Foreign Service Officer who ran twice for Congress in Texas’s 22nd district in the 2018 and 2020 election cycles. Sri has an amazing background: his father was an immigrant from India, and his mother is a descendent of Sam Houston, the first individual to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate back in 1846 and the man for whom the city of Houston in named.  Sri speaks six languages, has served as a Foreign Service Officer in Iraq, Israel, Russia, Taiwan, and Jamaica, and ran Congressional campaigns that communicated with voters in more than 20 languages.  

Sri's mix of deep southern roots, South Asian Heritage, and fierce commitment to serve the nation make him a unique and inspiring servant leader.  In this discussion, we talk about his challenging childhood, what he learned by representing America in some of the toughest spots around the globe, and why he chose to enter the arena after more than a decade of international service.  He also talks about the challenges and opportunities of entering the arena as an Asian American at this critical moment for the nation.

Sri has a fascinating story and a deep passion for service, and we're excited to lift up his voice and experience on this episode of the podcast!

The New Politics Podcast Episode 14: Tiffani Sykhammountry

Meet Tiffani Skyhammountry, our Director of Development here are New Politics.  Prior to joining our team, Tiffani served as the National Finance Manager for both Representative Joe Kennedy III here in MA, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of NY, so she has years of experience in the world of politics.

Tiffani's parents immigrated to the U.S. from Thailand and Laos, and she grew up in a working class community in Arlington, Virginia.  She also identifies as Queer and Non-Binary, and her path through politics has involved integrating all of those identities while working with and around some of the most powerful elected officials in the nation.  Tiffani also volunteers with the Asian American Women's Political Initiative, so she is very involved in supporting other Asian American women who feel called to enter the arena.

This AAPI Heritage Month, we are excited to lift up Tiffani's voice and experience to highlight the many ways that the AAPI community is contributing to our civic life at this critical moment.  

The New Politics Podcast Episode 13: Jennifer Lawless & Emily Cherniack

Dr. Jennifer Lawless is the Commonwealth Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, and she's a nationally recognized expert on women's involvement in American politics. She's more than just a scholar, though: She's a former candidate herself who ran for Congress in Maryland in 2006. On this episode she is joined by Emily Cherniack, the Founder and Executive Director of New Politics, making her first appearance on the podcast. Emily has recruited and supported hundreds of political candidates, and in 2018 was named to the Politico 50 list as one of the 50 "thinkers, doers and dreamers driving politics." In this episode inspired by Women's History Month, Dr. Lawless and Emily discuss the paths that brought them to politics, what they have learned from their experiences, and what it means to be a woman involved in politics today.

The New Politics Podcast Episode 12: Elizabeth Beck

Meet Elizabeth Beck: Army vet, lawyer, and single mom who stepped into the arena in the 2020 cycle to run for seat in the Texas State House. She ran a powerful and hard-hitting campaign, but ended up losing in what was a tough election cycle for many downballot democrats. Just a few months later, though, she is back in the arena running for a seat on the Fort Worth city council. In this episode, Elizabeth discusses her difficult childhood, what she learned from her eight years in the military, and how she made the decision to run negative ads against her opponent. Since this episode will be airing during Woman's History Month, she also talks about what it was like to be a woman in the army and a female candidate, and what she hopes our nation is reflecting on during Women's History Month this year.

The New Politics Podcast Episode 11: Amy McGrath

Amy McGrath is the Marine Corps fighter pilot who stepped into the arena in the 2020 cycle to challenge one of the most powerful figures in American politics:  Six-term incumbent and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.  In this conversation, Amy discusses the rock-solid sense of purpose that has guided her through her life, what is was like being among the first women to participate in combat missions in the F/A-18, and how she was able to stay resilient during a campaign in which tens of millions of dollars were being spent on attack ads against her.  Also, since we're airing this episode during Women's History Month, she discusses what it was like to be a mom on the campaign trail, and what advice she has for other women wondering if they feel called to step into the arena.  

In this episode, we also share the news that applications are open through March 22nd, 2021 for two programs being offered by the New Politics Leadership Academy:  

   -Answering the Call is for servant leaders (military vets or alumni of national service programs like AmeriCorps or Peace Corps) who are wondering if they feel called to serve again through politics.  It is a five-session small group virtual program with 20 different timing options to choose from. Click here to learn more or apply before March 22nd!

   -Staffing School is for any individuals who would like serve as a campaign staffer; this virtual program includes tracks focused on Campaign Management, Communications, Finance, and Field. Click here to learn more or apply before March 22nd!

The New Politics Podcast Episode 10: Debbie Harrington

Dr. Debbie Harrington served in the U.S. Army for 25 years, and then went on to complete a Doctorate of Education in Innovation and Organizational Leadership from Wilmington University in Delaware. She’s also a wife and mother of three adult children who ran to represent Delaware’s 8th district in the state legislature in the 2020 election cycle. In this interview. Dr. Harrington explains what she learned about service by being one of nine children, how her military service informed her campaign, and what it was like to be a Black woman running for elected office in Delaware through the pandemic and racial unrest of 2020.

The New Politics Podcast Episode 9: Claudette Williams

Meet Claudette Williams, an Army vet who served for 30 years before entering politics. As a single mother of three, Claudette was called to active duty after 9/11 and was deployed for more than a year. With the help of family and friends, she was able to find the necessary care for her kids, but she sacrificed some of the most formative years of their childhood in order to serve the nation in uniform. After retiring from the military in 2014, she felt called to continue to serve through politics, first on the borough council of her town in northeast Pennsylvania, and then in the 2020 cycle she ran to represent district 176 in the Pennsylvania state legislature. She lost, but ran a powerful campaign and learned a lot along the way.

In this episode, Claudette talks about where her commitment to service comes from and what she learned from her time in the military. She also discusses what it was like to run as woman of color in suburban and rural Pennsylvania during the tumultuous year of 2020.

The New Politics Podcast Episode 8: Matt Wilhelm

Matt Wilhelm currently serves as a State Representative in New Hampshire’s 42nd District.  Matt is an alumnus of the AmeriCorps program City Year New Hampshire, where he served as a team leader supporting AmeriCorps members working in high-need schools in Manchester. He went on to found ServeNext, an organization that helped to make national service a priority in the first-in-the-nation primary leading up to the 2008 presidential election, and also helped to launch Calling All Crowes, an organization that engages musicians and their fans in service projects across the nation. Following the 2016 election, Matt felt the call to enter politics and ran successfully for a seat in the state legislature, where, at age 37, he is one of the youngest elected officials in the Granite State.

In this episode, he talks about how his service experiences with City Year informed his decision to enter politics, and what it's like to try to live and lead with integrity in politics at this critical moment for the country.

At the end of the interview, he lifts up https://girlswork.org/, an organization empowering girls by teaching them STEM-related skills.  

The New Politics Podcast Episode 7: Maura Sullivan

Maura Sullivan is a Marine Corps vet and former business executive who served as the Assistant Secretary of Veteran Affairs in the Obama administration.  She had aspirations to run for office someday, but thought that day would be far in the future when she decided in 2016 to move to New Hampshire with plans to settle down and grow some roots. When NH Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter unexpectedly announced her retirement in 2017, Maura decided to jump in the race.  Although she lost the primary, she came in a strong second place and learned a great deal about the journey from service to politics.

In this episode, Maura discusses how her service with the Marines shaped her character, what she learned from her time in the Obama administration, and why it is important to have more servant leaders in politics today.

At the end of the episode, she lifts up the New Hampshire Women's Foundation, an organization focused on bringing more women into politics. Learn more at https://nhwomensfoundation.org/.

The New Politics Podcast Episode 6: Pat Ryan

Meet Pat Ryan:  West Point grad, Army veteran, tech entrepreneur, and dad.  After the 2016 election, he felt called to serve again through politics, and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in upstate New York, where he lost in the primary to Antonio Delgado, who went on to win the seat.  Just months later, he jumped right back into the arena to run for County Executive in Ulster County, where his family has lived for five generations.  He won that race, and in the early months of his time in office found himself at the front lines of responding to a global pandemic.

In this interview, Pat talks about how his military experience informs his political leadership and what it is like trying to serve his constituents as they respond to COVID-19.

At the end of this interview, he lifts up an organization called Project Resilience that is doing great work to address food insecurity in Ulster County; learn more about it at https://covid19.ulstercountyny.gov/project-resilience/

The New Politics Podcast Episode 5: Kiyomi Kowalski

Kiyomi Kowalski is a Marine Corps veteran and mom who is currently running for school board in Las Virgenes, CA, an upscale district near Los Angeles that includes residents like the Kardashians. This is Kiyomi’s second time in the arena, after running for this same seat unsuccessfully in 2018.  Over the course of her two campaigns, she has learned a lot about what it means to seek political office as a woman of color and as a political outsider.  In this episode, she explores how her military service has informed her leadership as a candidate, and she discusses the challenges of seeking to become the only person of color on an otherwise all-white school board.  

At the end of the episode, Kiyomi lifts up a local organization called the Law Project of Law Angeles that is working to provide holistic legal services to children and families involved in LA's criminal justice system.