Alle afleveringen
32 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Know Your Audience: "Campaigns Sometimes Know Their Issues Better Than They Know the People"
20 oktober 2026 · 8 min
Campaigns often know their issues better than they know the people they're trying to reach. Five campaigners explain why stories alone aren't enough, and what works instead. Lees meer
Kristen Grimm of Spitfire Strategies on why "save democracy" messaging misses most people. Will Robinson on two hospitals that closed four miles apart. Anat Shenker-Osorio on "married filing jointly" versus "love makes a family." Ritti Singh on leading with the frame and putting the details in the middle. And Mark Magaña of GreenLatinos on why "if you hit me just with data, I'm going to get a little blurry," and the same goes for loose stories.
Chapters
0:00 Intro: are stories really enough?
0:50 Kristen Grimm: how people see their own circumstances
1:36 Will Robinson: two hospitals, no statistics
3:05 Anat Shenker-Osorio: the words people actually use
4:34 Ritti Singh: frame first, details in the middle
5:40 Mark Magaña: story plus evidence
6:25 What it adds up toThe Campaign Strategist on Substack: https://thecampaignstrategist.substack.com
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCampaignStrategistIf this was useful, follow The Campaign Strategist wherever you listen, and leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts. It helps other campaigners find the show.
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Colin Delany: You Can Microtarget Yourself to Death
6 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 2 min
Campaigns keep pouring money into broadcast TV while their voters are on YouTube, and targeting people too narrowly can backfire. Digital strategist Colin Delany has watched every new political technology arrive since the mid-1990s, and he explains which ones actually changed how campaigns win. Lees meer
Colin is the founder of Epolitics.com and the author of How to Use the Internet to Change the World. We cover the three shifts that mattered most (online video, data-driven field and targeted advertising), why "you can microtarget yourself to death," what AI really changes, why trusted messengers beat disinformation, and how to convince donors to fund infrastructure a year out instead of at the last minute.
CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open: why the money still goes to TV
02:19 Which technologies actually changed campaigns
07:04 You can microtarget yourself to death
11:11 What Obama's field operation knew that 2016 forgot
17:37 Inertia plus incentive: the broadcast TV problem
21:03 What AI really changes (and what's overhyped)
26:40 Trusted messengers and relational organizing
34:57 Funders like to fund shiny things
41:29 Reward people for giving you time
49:08 Making the case for infrastructure
54:35 What political pros still misunderstand
58:20 Advice for people starting out
LINKS
Show notes and video: https://thecampaignstrategist.substack.com/p/colin-delany-microtarget-yourself-to-death
Epolitics.com: https://www.epolitics.com
The Campaign Strategist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCampaignStrategist
The Campaign Strategist features conversations with the people shaping advocacy and electoral strategy.
Subscribe free at https://thecampaignstrategist.substack.com, and if the show is useful to you, a rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps other strategists find it.
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Ritti Singh: A Door Knocker Is Not Hitting 250 People
22 september 2026 · 56 min
Someone with 1,500 followers who reliably gets 250 people engaging is a person who can move 250 people — and a door knocker isn't reaching that many in an hour. Narrative strategist Ritti Singh explains how New York's tenant movement built a surround sound communications machine, and what any advocacy organization can take from it. Lees meer
Ritti led communications for Housing Justice for All and the New York State Tenant Bloc, including the Freeze the Rent campaign in New York City's 2025 mayoral race. She talks with Pete Altman about why debunking the right's squatter narrative failed, why message discipline has to start in your own internal meetings, how "tenants are the majority" turned a policy demand into an identity, and her four-step framework: map, seed, echo, invite.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Cold open
00:25 Introducing Ritti Singh
01:54 Communications is organizing
05:07 How the right runs surround sound
08:05 The squatter story: when debunking fails
12:35 Message discipline starts inside
14:25 Tenants are the majority
17:15 From wonk-speak to plain language
20:17 Mapping where people actually get information
23:02 Seeding content: WhatsApp forwards and trusted messengers
23:55 Making the ask
28:50 The $2.5 million moment
32:56 Where to start: map, seed, echo, invite
39:42 What you only learn by doing it
44:50 Authenticity vs. message discipline
50:26 Why comms and organizing can't be separate departments
52:56 Career adviceLINKS
Full episode and show notes: https://thecampaignstrategist.substack.com/p/ritti-singh-surround-sound-communications
Ritti's essay, Surround Sound Communications: https://convergencemag.com/articles/surround-sound-communications-how-to-build-a-narrative-machine/Pete's essay "The System We Haven't Built" which cites Ritti and others: https://thecampaignstrategist.substack.com/p/the-system-we-havent-built?r=49slwa&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCampaignStrategist
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Will Robinson: "Consultants are parasites"
8 september 2026 · 1 uur 4 min
Will Robinson has made ads for Democrats for forty years. He opens this conversation by calling his own profession parasitic. Lees meer
We start with what artificial intelligence has done to political communication since late 2025. Voters searching for a candidate increasingly get a synthesized paragraph instead of a list of links, and only about one percent click through to a source. Will searched himself and found out he is a Republican state representative from Florida. His conclusion: thirty years of message discipline now points the wrong way. The rule was never repeat the attack, but if the denial is not published somewhere a machine can read it, the denial does not exist.
From there: why the Democratic Party cannot adapt, and what Blockbuster and Sears have to do with it. Why broadcast is down to nineteen percent of video viewing while campaigns still spend like it is 2004. Why a college-educated woman from Bryn Mawr, one from Ohio State and one from Liberty are three different audiences, not one demographic. Why a story beats a bag full of facts. And what he would build with one hundred million dollars, which is not ads.
Will Robinson is co-founder of the New Media Firm and writes Will Robinson's Newsletter on Substack.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Cold open
00:20 Introduction
02:17 AI has changed politics, and it does not know what is true
06:23 Why never repeat the attack is now backwards
10:10 The two questions every campaign should start with
13:18 The innovator's dilemma, from Blockbuster to the Democratic Party
17:12 Consultants, profit, and the case for programmatic
20:50 Why campaign managers cannot push back
23:36 Audience-first: Bryn Mawr, Ohio State, Liberty
26:51 Culture crushes credentials
29:00 Why a story beats a bag full of facts
34:08 Two hospitals close, and a woman sobbing at the pharmacy
37:20 What Abdul El-Sayed's win actually shows
41:06 The fire hose of falsehood
45:59 If I had one hundred million dollars, I would train
50:01 Leadership, Tip O'Neill, and… -
"Trust Scales Through People Now" — Amanda Brink on Why the Old Organizing Toolkit Is Breaking
11 augustus 2026 · 45 min
The tactics most campaigns were built on are quietly breaking, and the reason isn't messaging — it's trust. Host Pete Altman talks with Amanda Brink, executive director of The Empower Project, whose recent essay "The Rules of Engagement Have Changed" argues that real persuasion now happens in the group chats, DMs, and comment sections where people decide who to believe. Amanda makes the case that we're organizing in an environment where credibility travels through people rather than institutions: "I really feel like trust scales through people now. It no longer scales through institutions, which also makes me sad, but I think that is the reality that we are living in." She walks through what friend-to-friend organizing looks like at scale — 47,000 community mobilizers in 2024, three million names, nine million conversations — and why the app is never the answer: "In the same way you can't build a house with just a hammer, a tool is not enough." She's also blunt about why the left is behind, from status quo bias to a movement that is "literally letting the perfect be the enemy of the good." For anyone rethinking how their organization reaches people in 2026, this is a practical conversation about building power instead of perfecting copy. Lees meer
LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE
The Empower Project: https://empowerproject.us/
Amanda Brink on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brinkamandal/
Amanda's bio: https://empowerproject.us/amanda-brink
Amanda's essay, "The Rules of Engagement Have Changed": https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rules-engagement-have-changed-amanda-brink-krfgc/
Marquette Law School Poll on trust, July 2026: https://law.marquette.edu/poll/2026/07/07/marquette-law-school-poll-finds-a-steady-decline-by-age-in-trust-in-other-people/
Messengers: Who We Listen To, Who We Don't, and Why, by Steve Martin and Joseph Marks — the trusted-messenger research Amanda cites
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"Anything Else Is Just Busy Work" — Dana Johnson on Strategy, Solidarity, and What Comes After
14 juli 2026 · 32 min
"If you're not focused on democracy and holding the line there, anything else you're doing is just busy work." That's movement strategist Dana Johnson, and it's the spirit of this whole conversation — clear-eyed about the moment, and unwilling to retreat from it. Lees meer
Dana is the founder of Strategic Movement Collective and the former Senior Director of Strategy and Federal Policy at WE ACT for Environmental Justice. In this episode she walks through how she actually designs a campaign — from the first "big sky" objective all the way down to the question she keeps returning to: what's missing from this conversation, and who's missing from it? She shares the moment at WE ACT when she realized an emissions-modeling fight was incomplete until they hired someone who could take it down to the level of regions, states, and communities.
From there we go somewhere harder: how the advocacy toolkit has changed under real pressure, why she thinks the movement "missed the mark" on solidarity, and what the people of Minneapolis taught the rest of us about building organizing infrastructure that outlasts a single fight. We close on what it would actually take to rebuild — not the way things were, but for the next fifty years.
What you'll take away: a working method for designing a campaign from objective to messenger to gap; why solidarity is a strategic commitment and not a sentiment; how organizing infrastructure gets built in one fight and repurposed in the next; and a "both/and" frame for rebuilding institutions instead of just restoring them.
Dana Johnson is a movement strategist and founder of Strategic Movement Collective. She previously served as Senior Director of Strategy and Federal Policy at WE ACT for Environmental Justice and sits on the board of Green 2.0.
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Francesca Koe on Narrative vs. Messaging — and How Stories Shift Power
16 juni 2026 · 49 min
If you've ever used "narrative," "messaging," and "communication strategy" as if they meant the same thing, this episode sorts that out fast. Host Pete Altman sits down with Francesca Koe — a communications and advocacy strategist with more than two decades helping movements grow power and win change, now a Program Director with Narrative Initiative — who has led integrated campaigns across climate, oceans, energy, and social justice. Francesca breaks down the layered structure of narrative using a Jaws-and-sharks example that sticks, explains why rigor and resonance are an "and" rather than a trade-off, and makes the case that trusted institutions are having to rethink who gets to be the messenger. She also argues that the work belongs to everyone, not just consultants: as she puts it, "guess who narrative practitioners are? Everyone, we all are." For anyone trying to talk about hard things in a way that actually lands, there's a lot here on landscaping narratives, building local capacity, and meeting people where they are. Lees meer
Keywords/tags: narrative change, political messaging, communication strategy, advocacy strategy, progressive messaging, narrative initiative, movement building, climate communication, health equity, deep narratives, meta-narrative, framing, asset framing, building power, community organizing, ocean conservation, kelp restoration, The Campaign Strategist, Pete Altman, Francesca Koe
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Anna Aurilio on Child Poverty, Affordability & Political Power
12 mei 2026 · 57 min
Anna Aurilio joins The Campaign Strategist to talk about the intersection of advocacy, economic security, and political power. Drawing on nearly four decades of organizing experience — from environmental campaigns to leading federal advocacy at the Economic Security Project — Anna explains how policies like the expanded Child Tax Credit and guaranteed income can materially improve people’s lives while building broader economic stability. Pete and Anna discuss the affordability crisis, corporate concentration, healthcare cuts, and the challenges of communicating progressive solutions in today’s fragmented media environment. Along the way, Anna reflects on the importance of coalition building, durable power, and why “we know how to solve child poverty — we did it for six months.” It’s a strategic and deeply practical conversation about what advocacy campaigns need to accomplish in the years ahead. Lees meer
Learn more about Anna's and ESP's work at https://economicsecurityproject.org/.
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Pete Maysmith, LCV President, on what it really takes to win right now
7 april 2026 · 52 min
Pete Maysmith has been doing this work for over 30 years — from Rocky Flats protests in fifth grade to leading one of the country’s most powerful environmental electoral organizations. As President of the League of Conservation Voters, he oversees hundreds of millions of dollars in electoral and advocacy spending across a 30-state affiliate network. Lees meer
In this conversation, we don’t spend much time on the doom. We spend it on the strategy.
**What you’ll hear in this episode:**
- Why energy affordability — not carbon policy — is the entry point for reaching persuadable voters right now
- How LCV is running AI-assisted, neighbor-to-neighbor video ads in a Michigan congressional district to hold Republicans accountable for higher utility bills
- Why the movement needs to think culturally, not just politically, to break through a fragmented media landscape
- How public lands became a rare piece of genuine bipartisan common ground — with MAGA hats showing up at LCV rallies
- What it means to defend democracy as a prerequisite for environmental progress
- And why the goal after Trump can’t just be to restore what existed before
Pete’s closing piece of advice, passed on to him early in his career, stayed with me: ”Everybody needs hope and heroes . . . We have to believe and we have to give people belief. And if we do that, people will show up.”
This is exactly the kind of conversation The Campaign Strategist exists to have — candid, strategic, and focused on what it actually takes to build power and win.
If you find these conversations useful, please share this with someone who’d benefit. It’s the best way to help the show grow.
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Planning to Win with Kristen Grimm of Spitfire Strategies
3 maart 2026 · 39 min
Kristen Grimm, founder of Spitfire Strategies, joins Pete to discuss what it really takes to win advocacy campaigns in today’s fractured media environment. Drawing from her updated campaign planning guide, Planning to Win, Kristen explains why campaigns must define concrete victories instead of defaulting to “raising awareness,” and why declining public trust is one of the biggest threats to public interest work. She argues that hope is not the same as optimism — hope requires agency and a clear path forward. The conversation explores how to balance blocking harmful policies with building toward affirmative solutions, how to choose the right moment to act, and how campaign leadership and frontline voices shape outcomes. For advocates navigating turbulent political times, this episode offers both discipline and encouragement. Lees meer
Get the planning guide here: https://spitfirestrategies.com/tools/planning-to-win/
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Defying Fascism and Building Narrative Power with Dr. Jiggy Geronimo
11 november 2025 · 49 min
In this episode, Pete talks with Dr. Jiggy Geronimo, a neuroscientist-turned-strategist and founder of JG Insights, about building powerful progressive narratives. Jiggy shares why poll-tested messaging often fails—and how an “emotions first, content first” strategy can drive real resistance and mobilization. Lees meer
From confronting fascism to channeling public anger into action, this conversation is a guide to narrative power in dangerous times. "Narrative is about the words, but it's also about the visuals," says Jiggy. "It's also about the stories. It's also about the feelings. And we don't...on the left, take that holistic approach to narrative."
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How Progressives Win in the Modern Media Age: Jenifer Ancona of Way to Win
28 oktober 2025 · 52 min
In this episode of The Campaign Strategist, Pete talks with Jenifer Fernandez Ancona, Co-Founder and Chief Strategist at Way to Win, and co-host of Charting the Way Forward, about how progressives can thrive in a radically transformed media environment. Lees meer
Jenifer shares how she went from journalist to movement strategist — and how that journey shaped her understanding of what it takes to compete in an attention economy dominated by emotion, culture, and decentralized media. She explains why campaigns must merge organizing and media instead of treating them as separate worlds, and how creators, storytelling, and cultural authenticity can move people in ways policy briefs never will.
If you care about how progressives can break through the noise — and build real narrative power — don’t miss this one.
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Shilpi Chhotray on Media, Power, and Climate Justice
14 oktober 2025 · 39 min
In this episode, Pete Altman talks with media strategist and Counter Stream Media founder Shilpi Chhotray, who makes a powerful case for rethinking how we build power for climate justice. Shilpi shares why she’s stepped back from the mainstream climate movement—and why philanthropy’s failure to fund narrative work and frontline leadership is holding the movement back. From global organizing to launching a frontline-led media outlet, she outlines how narrative strategy, not just comms, can shift hearts, policy, and power. “We’re not winning the narrative war,” she warns, “because we’re not investing where it counts.” Lees meer
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The Democratic Party Isn’t Coming to Save Us: Tara Buss on Competitive Authoritarianism and the Path Forward
16 september 2025 · 39 min
Tara Buss, Senior Director of Research at the Research Collaborative, joins The Campaign Strategist to unpack what she calls "competitive authoritarianism" in the U.S.—a state that mimics democracy while systematically undermining it. She and Pete explore why mass non-compliance is critical, how narrative strategy can shape resistance, and why polling shouldn’t lead progressive strategy. “The rules of the game have changed,” she warns. “We can’t wait until 2026—we have to act now.” This is a compelling, clear-eyed look at the fight to preserve democracy. Lees meer
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A Progressive Art of War with Eric Hensal
2 september 2025 · 41 min
What can Sun Tzu teach us about winning political power in 2025? Lees meer
In this new episode of The Campaign Strategist, I talk with Eric Hensal—veteran progressive strategist, author of A Progressive Art of War and host of the podcast Progressive Conjecture—about applying timeless military strategy to modern political challenges.
We explore:
Why progressives often lose not because of the opposition, but because of strategic missteps
How to think like an organizer and a general
The importance of deception, clarity, and preparation in narrative and coalition work
Why “knowing the ground” matters more than moral certainty
What Biden, rural outreach, and “melting ICE” can teach us about smart campaigns
Eric’s approach is provocative, practical, and rooted in decades of experience across labor, government, and political campaigns.
#PoliticalStrategy #CampaignStrategy #Advocacy #ProgressivePolitics #NarrativeStrategy #MovementBuilding #TheCampaignStrategist
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Say It Like You Mean It: Narrative Strategy with Anat Shenker-Osorio
19 augustus 2025 · 47 min
Messaging maven and strategist Anat Shenker-Osorio joins Pete to unpack the mechanics of narrative, the seductive power of repetition, and why too much progressive messaging sounds like it came from a law school textbook. From “Florida fascism facilities” to “start how you want to finish,” Anat brings clarity and conviction to the question of how we talk about political danger—and what we should say instead. This is a sharp, funny, and necessary conversation about how to build power through language. Lees meer
Follow Anat's Substack Words to Win by and check out her firm's work: ASO Communications.
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How the People of NC Stopped Mark Robinson | Durrell Johnson on The Campaign Strategist
22 juli 2025 · 43 min
Durrell Johnson helped lead the campaign to stop Mark Robinson’s run for governor in North Carolina—and in doing so, created a roadmap for defeating far-right extremism. Lees meer
In this episode, he explains how local groups built trust, centered impacted communities, and reached even conservative voters who felt the danger. “This wasn’t just about what Robinson said—it was about what would happen if he held power.” A must-listen for campaigners and communicators heading into 2026.
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The Art of Understanding and Connecting with Voters with Liz Kazal
8 juli 2025 · 36 min
Liz Kazal of the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy joins The Campaign Strategist to talk about why Republican members of Congress are starting to feel real political risk over their support for Trump’s tax and budget bill—and how her team is keeping the pressure on. From Medicaid cuts to economic messaging, Liz shares how organizers can turn pain into power—and why being “relentless” is the only path forward in today’s political climate. Lees meer
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Nick Ahamed on How Progressives Can Win the Internet
24 juni 2025 · 40 min
Nick Ahamed, Deputy Executive Director of Priorities USA, joins Pete to break down the changing media landscape and what progressives must do to keep up. From the emotional resonance of abortion ads to why YouTube is essential for reaching young and diverse voters, Nick shares sharp insights on message testing, digital strategy, and long-term infrastructure. “You can’t talk to gamers and beauty YouTubers the same way—our messaging has to match the niche.” Lees meer
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Indivisible's Dani Negrete on the Urgency of Building Power Before It’s Too Late
10 juni 2025 · 47 min
In this episode of The Campaign Strategist, Pete talks with Dani Negrete, National Political Director at Indivisible. Dani shares why “we don’t have four years to fix things,” drawing on lessons from recent campaigns and historical trends in authoritarian movements. They discuss how grassroots movements can sustain resistance, why cultural organizing is essential, and how to build power at the local level. A must-listen for anyone interested in advocacy, movement-building, and progressive political strategy. Lees meer
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Messaging Without Emotion or Risk = Political Failure — Saeed Mousavi
27 mei 2025 · 49 min
Pollster and strategist Saeed Mousavi joins The Campaign Strategist to explain why Democrats are losing emotional traction—and what it takes to reconnect. From risk-averse messaging to outdated research models, Saeed makes the case for a new, emotionally resonant strategy built for today’s media landscape. Lees meer
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Why Restoring the Old Order Won’t Save Us | Michael Podhorzer Explains
13 mei 2025 · 41 min
Michael Podhorzer joins host Pete Altman to talk about what really happened in the 2024 election—and why the fight ahead isn’t about restoring the old order, but building a new one. From the failures of civil institutions to the importance of unions and organizing, this is a powerful conversation for anyone trying to navigate the Trump Era with clarity and strategy. Lees meer
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How Activists Stopped Fracking in NY—And What We Can Learn From It
29 april 2025 · 44 min
In this episode of The Campaign Strategist, Rich Schrader and Kate Sinding Daly take us inside the eight-year campaign that led New York to ban fracking—making it the first state with significant gas deposits to stop the practice. Rich is the Director of New York Government Affairs at NRDC. At the time, Kate was Senior Attorney and Deputy Director of NRDC’s New York Program. She is now Vice President of Law and Policy at the Conservation Law Foundation. Lees meer
They share how their team, alongside grassroots allies, built public pressure, commissioned polling the state couldn’t ignore, and demanded scientific and moral accountability from their own movement.
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The Art of Organizing Clean Businesses with Bob Keefe
15 april 2025 · 41 min
What happens when clean energy jobs face a political headwind—and how can business leaders fight back? In this episode of The Campaign Strategist, Bob Keefe of E2 joins Pete for a two-part conversation. First, they discuss how the Trump administration’s attacks on clean energy are stalling billions in investment and job creation. Then, they rewind to Bob’s original interview about the strategies E2 uses to mobilize unexpected messengers—businesspeople—for climate advocacy. If you want to understand how economic arguments win policy fights, this one’s for you. Lees meer
Learn more about E2: https://e2.org/
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Why Democrats Are Losing the Working Class | Chuck Rocha Explains
1 april 2025 · 37 min
Political strategist and labor organizer Chuck Rocha, founder of Solidarity Strategies, joins Pete Altman on The Campaign Strategist to talk about why progressives are losing touch with working-class voters—and how to fix it. From his start as a teenage union steward in Texas to running Latino outreach for Bernie Sanders, Chuck shares hard-won lessons on strategy, cultural competency, and building lasting political power. Lees meer
About Chuck: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-rocha-476a6276
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The Art of Prep and Story with Melissa Waage
18 maart 2025 · 34 min
On this week’s pod, I had the joy of talking with the wonderful Melissa Waage — a brilliant strategist, long-time environmental advocate, and now VP of Advocacy & Engagement at Sandy Hook Promise.
We dig into campaign strategy fundamentals, what it really takes to move decision-makers, why preparation and storytelling matter so much, and how to keep people engaged even through long, hard fights (looking at you, Inflation Reduction Act!). Plus, Melissa shares the best piece of advice she ever got and why self-care matters for campaigners. Lees meerSandy Hook Promise: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/
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Leadership and long-term thinking with Mark Magaña
4 maart 2025 · 38 min
Environmentalist, strategist and leader Mark Magaña joins The Campaign Strategist to talk about the need for long-term vision and investments in growing progressive political power, how to think like a White House staffer when asking them for help, and his approach to building up the infrastructure of the movement. Mark is the Founding President & CEO of GreenLatinos, a co-founder of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition, and serves on the boards of the League of Conservation Voters, Green 2.0, and the Children’s Environmental Health Network. Lees meer
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The Power of Questions with George Rakis
18 februari 2025 · 36 min
Friend and colleague George Rakis joins The Campaign Strategist today as we talk about his role leading the Climate Action Campaign from 2011 - 2018, which resulted in the first national carbon standards ever to be promulgated in the U.S. That's where I got to know George, from recommending him to run the campaign to my boss at NRDC to my role as senior advisor to the campaign. George came from a long electoral career which included running various Congressional and statewide campaigns, to senior roles in the Michigan Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee. George brought his electoral experience and his curiousity to one of the biggest challenges in politics: notching a win on climate policy. Lees meer
Find George here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-rakis-vote/
About The Campaign Strategist:
The podcast is produced by host Pete Altman's Prismatic Strategies, a consulting firm providing clients a spectrum of strategic and innovative campaign solutions.Find and subscribe to the pod here:
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The Campaign Strategist is produced by Prismatic Strategies, LLC (https://www.prismaticstrategiesllc.com/).
Hosted by Pete Altman. Music by Andrea Perry (https://andreaperry.tv/) and Pete Altman. Edited by Abby Altman.Check out Pete's Medium blog (https://medium.com/@PeteAltman)
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The Art of Focus with Danielle Droitsch
4 februari 2025 · 36 min
In this episode of 'The Campaign Strategist,' host Pete Altman interviews Danielle Droitsch, an environmental advocate and executive coach. Danielle shares her journey into environmental advocacy, beginning with a college protest against Exxon. The conversation delves into campaign strategies, including power mapping and decision-maker analysis. Danielle emphasizes the importance of focused, strategic actions over broad mobilization efforts, using examples from her work on campaigns like the Keystone XL pipeline and various watershed and wilderness protection initiatives. She also discusses coalition management, the significance of engaging diverse groups, and the challenges of getting collective agreements on strategies. The episode concludes with Danielle reflecting on advice from mentors and the importance of maintaining relationships with decision makers. Lees meer
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The Power of Culture with Reverend Lennox Yearwood
21 januari 2025 · 38 min
Reverend Lennox Yearwood Jr. joins us for a thought-provoking conversation about culture, advocacy and much more. President and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus and host of The Coolest Show podcast, Yearwood's activism was spurred by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which highlighted the need to address climate issues in his community. Lees meer
Our conversation delves into his philosophy that culture is central to effective activism, describing how actions rooted in cultural engagement can bridge divides and rally communities. Yearwood discusses the Hip Hop Caucus's methods, like incorporating comedy and music into their campaigns, and emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing resistance when forming strategies.
We get into how the white-dominance of the environmental movement dampens its reach and power, and Reverend Yearwood touches on his philanthropic work which aims to redirect resources to marginalized communities. The dialogue highlights the integral link between culture and systemic change and underscores the importance of genuine, diverse engagement in advocacy efforts.
Show Notes:
Follow Rev Yearwood on BlueSky at @revyearwood.bsky.social
Organizations & projects brought up in today’s episode:
Hip Hop Caucus
The Coolest Show
Bank Black and Green
Underwater Projects
Green 2.0
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Contact: Contact@PrismaticStrategiesLLC.com
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The Art of Organizing with Tom "Smitty" Smith
7 januari 2025 · 35 min
In this episode, Pete interviews Tom "Smitty" Smith, a seasoned advocate who shares insights and personal stories from decades of organizing, advocating, and lobbying. The discussion covers the essential elements of successful advocacy, including the importance of coalition-building, strategic adjustments, empowering community members, and the art of creating a 'hero's path' for opponents. Learn how to identify key issues, find effective solutions, and mobilize diverse groups to create impactful change. Lees meer
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Contact: Contact@PrismaticStrategiesLLC.com
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Welcome to The Campaign Strategist
26 december 2024 · 1 min
The Campaign Strategist host Pete Altman introduces the show and what it's about: the art and science of advocacy. Lees meer
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Contact: Contact@PrismaticStrategiesLLC.com
Find us on LinkedIn and Bluesky