Jayden D’Onofrio has a lengthy political background and has been a leader in multiple youth focused political organizations including VOTFlorida and Voters of Tomorrow. Since his last visit to the podcast in November of 2022, Jayden has founded the Florida Future Leaders PAC. The focus of the PAC is to combine the power of Florida College Democrats, Florida High School Democrats, and paid on-campus organizing to make change in Florida.

Websites
Florida Future Leaders PAC

Special Guest: Jayden D'Onofrio.

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Maya Brown has spent almost 10 years electing progressive democrats to offices and running issue-based campaigns up and down the ballot in Florida. Her political experience is matched by her fundraising and public spokesman skills. A known consensus-builder, she has collaborated with politicians, nonprofit leaders, and community advocates to help solve and effectively communicate some of our state’s most pressing issues and help nonprofit organizations grow. Her legislative and public affairs experience in both Florida’s Capitol and local government helped shape historic quality of life and criminal justice policy reforms.

Website
Maya Brown

Special Guest: Maya Brown.

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Jayden D’Onofrio has a lengthy political background and found it necessary to create the Teen Aspect organization to further the goals of youth education and awareness. Fighting for stronger influence in the political sphere for Generation Z, Jayden is the President of VOTFlorida, Deputy Strategy Director for Voters of Tomorrow, and formerly involved with Florida Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book's election campaign, as well as Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz and Florida Senator Shevrin Jones' respective district offices. Most recently, Jayden has worked as a staffer for the Charlie Crist campaign.

Websites
The Teen Aspect
VOTFlorida
Voters of Tomorrow

Special Guest: Jayden D'Onofrio.

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Hillary Cassel is a proud Democrat, mental health care advocate, and co-founder of the law firm Cassel & Cassel, P.A.

Beginning her legal career as an Assistant State Attorney at the Broward State Attorney’s Office, Hillary witnessed the devastating inequality of our justice system firsthand. For the last seven years, she has represented struggling families against large insurance companies in their time of need. Now, she is running for the Florida House of Representatives because she knows that we need strong Democratic leadership in Tallahassee.

Websites
Hillary for Florida Website
Namaste the Stigma Away

Special Guest: Hillary Cassel .

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Lindsay works as the Finance Consultant with Diverse Strategy Group (DSG), helping clients maximize their fundraising potential. She operates on the notion that “you’ll never get if you don’t ask.” Whether it’s crafting a finance plan, planning and executing events or just nudging clients along during call time, she provides Democrats the fundraising tool kit they need to stay competitive.

Prior to co-founding DSG, Lindsay has worked as a Finance Consultant for Broward County (Fla.) Commissioner Dale Holness’ re-election campaign, Sandra Ruiz for (Doral) Mayor and the Broward Democratic Party. She had also served as the Finance Director for Randy Perkins for Congress, Annette Taddeo for Congress and the Miami-Dade Democratic Party.

Special Guest: Lindsay Pollard.

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Tina’s Story
Joel-Lehi Organista was a rising star in the world of local politics after winning a school board seat. BUT when allegations arise involving minors, he falls from grace.

Hillary’s Story
Phyllis Schlafly made a name for herself in Republican politics. BUT it’s her attack of the Equal Rights Amendment that has had lasting consequences.

Sources
Tina's Story
County of Salt Lake
Affadavit of Probable Cause

Fox 13, Salt Lake City
Will a new board restore professionalism to the Salt Lake City School District?--by Adam Herbets

KSL
Ex-Salt Lake School Board member pleads not guilty to federal child porn charges--By Annie Knox
Ex-Salt Lake School Board member sentenced to 15 years for child pornography--By Emily Ashcraft
Salt Lake City School Board member arrested in child porn case; letter asks for his resignation--By Pat Reavy
Salt Lake City School Board member now charged with object rape of a child--By Pat Reavy

KUTV2
Former SLC School Board member now faces federal child pornography charges--by Jeremy Harris

Meaww
Who is Joel-Lehi Organista? Utah school board member allegedly exploited minors sexually, kept child porn--by Pritha Paul

Medium
Reflection on the Rise and Fall of the Trump Era--by Joél-Léhi Organista

Soar
Joél-Léhi Organista

US Attorney's Office District of Utah
Salt Lake City Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

Photos
Joél-Léhi Organista--via Organista for School Board Page Facebook
Organista Speaking at Tedx Event--Tedx Screenshot via Daily Caller
Organista at DeVos Protest--Photo by Chris Detrick via The Salt Lake Tribune

Hillary's Story
Biography
Phyllis Schlafly

Britannica
Phyllis Schlafly--by John M. Cunningham

History
How Phyllis Schlafly Derailed the Equal Rights Amendment--by Lesley Kennedy

Los Angeles Times
How accurate is ‘Mrs. America’s’ portrayal of Phyllis Schlafly? We asked a historian--by Meredith Blake

The New Yorker
Reviving Phyllis Schlafly in “Mrs. America”--by Doreen St. Felix

The New York Times
Phyllis Schlafly, ‘First Lady’ of a Political March to the Right, Dies at 92--by Douglas Martin

NPR
Conservative Icon Phyllis Schlafly Dies At 92--by Tanya Ballard Brown

Politico
Remembering Phyllis Schlafly--by Donald T. Critchlow

Wikipedia
Equal Rights Amendment
Phyllis Schlafly

Women's History
Phyllis Schlafly--by Arbora Johnson

Photos
Phyllis Schlafly--from Getty Images via The Heritage Foundation
ERA Protest--from AP via Tampa Bay Times
Schlafly at Trump Rally--by Gino Santa Maria/Shutterstock via Riverfront Times

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Denise Horland has been serving the City of Plantation since 2018. A strong believer in civic engagement and service to others, Denise continues to serve on several boards and charitable groups. She currently serves on the Broward League of Cities Board Directors, Florida League of Cities Advocacy, and Municipal Administration Legislative Policy Committees and was recently appointed to the Broward County Planning Council. Denise was proud to have been named by the Florida League of Cities as Plantation’s first Home Rule Hero, and as a 2021 Woman of Distinction by the Broward County Commission on the Status of Women. Additionally, Denise currently serves as Secretary on the Plantation Police Pension Board and earned her Certified Public Pension Trustee (CPPT) designation in 2021.

Hillary and Tina speak to Denise Horland about her activism, her public service, the importance of local politics, and more!

Sources
Denise Horland City of Plantation Bio
Council Member Denise Horland Facebook

Special Guest: Denise Horland.

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Desmond Meade is a formerly homeless returning citizen who overcame many obstacles to eventually become the President of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), Chair of Floridians for a Fair Democracy, and a graduate of Florida International University College of Law.

As President and Executive Director of FRRC, Desmond led the FRRC to a historic victory in 2018 with the successful passage of Amendment 4, a grassroots citizen’s initiative which restored voting rights to over 1.4 million Floridians with past felony convictions. Recognized by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2019, Desmond presently leads efforts to empower and civically re-engage local communities across the state, and to reshape local, state, and national criminal justice policies.

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

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Special Guest: Kate G.

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Congressman Ted Deutch represents Florida's 22nd district, which serves communities in northern Broward County and southeastern Palm Beach County in South Florida. Now serving his seventh term in the 117th Congress, he is the Chairman of the House Ethics Committee, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on which he serves as the Chairman of the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism Subcommittee.Ted’s priorities in the 117th Congress include promoting economic opportunity in South Florida, reducing the influence of big money in our elections, gun violence prevention, fighting for full equality for all, and advancing the security interests of the United States, Israel, and our allies.

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

Special Guest: Ted Deutch.

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Robin Bartleman serves as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from District 104. Prior to earning the House Seat, Robin served on the Broward County School Board for 16 years. She has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in special education and worked as a special education teacher and assistant principal in Liberty City.

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

Special Guest: Robin Bartleman.

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Lucy has dedicated her career to building movements and training the next generation of Democratic leadership.

In 2020, she led Colorado’s Abortion Access for All campaign, a state-wide coalition that defeated a high-profile initiative to ban abortion later in pregnancy.

Through her work, Lucy has trained hundreds of organizers, campaign staff and candidates. She served as National Training Director for Warren for President and National Training Director for the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, where she taught Democratic candidates at all levels how to run and win campaigns. Lucy is based in St. Petersburg, FL.

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

Special Guest: Lucy Sedgwick.

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Representative Malcolm Kenyatta currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Philadelphia Delegation and as a member of the Governor’sTaskforce on Suicide Prevention and a host of committee leadershippositions. He received a B.A. from Temple University, a M.S. from Drexel University, and completed the Harvard Kennedy School’s Executives in State and Local Government program. As the first openly LGBTQ person of color and one of the youngest members elected to the PA GeneralAssembly, he is deeply committed to creating an equitable and inclusive society.
As a legislator, he has championed proposals to address generational poverty, raise the minimum wage, protect workers' rights, increase access to mental healthcare, common-sense measures to address gun violence, and protect our digital infrastructure.

In 2016 and in 2020, he was elected as Delegate to the Democratic Convention (PA 2nd), both times garnering the second-highest vote total of any delegate in the Commonwealth. He has also appeared on local and national media outlets to discuss systemic poverty, affordable education and childcare, and making government more accountable to citizens. He was the subject of an award-winning short documentary about his election run, ‘Going Forward’ produced by Seven Knot Productions, which premiered on ‘The Atlantic Magazine Selects’ in 2018. In 2020 he was chosen by Vice President Joe Biden to give the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention along with a group of other ‘Rising Stars.’ He was one of twenty Electoral College votes cast for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, in Harrisburg on December 14, 2020. He lives in North Philadelphia with his partner Dr. Matthew Miller.

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

Special Guest: Malcolm Kenyatta.

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Bobby B. DuBose’s notable career of leadership within the Florida Legislature began when he accepted the position of Democratic Leader Pro Tempore until 2018, leading to the highlight of his final term – serving as the current Minority Leader for 2020–22 Legislature. This accomplishment follows his many years of service as Commissioner for District 3 with the City of Fort Lauderdale. Additionally, Representative DuBose was elected as Chair of the Broward Legislative Delegation for 2016-2017.

Representative DuBose received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Florida. After graduation, Representative DuBose returned to his hometown neighborhood where he learned the true meaning of “to whom much is given, much is required.”

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

Special Guest: Bobby DuBose.

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Sarah Leonardi is a teacher and the school board member for Broward County Public School’s District 3. She has nearly a decade of teaching experience, primarily teaching English in Broward’s public high schools. During her tenure in Broward Schools, she served as the sponsor to various clubs, worked as a mentor to other teachers, and was voted the Teacher of the Year at Coconut Creek High School in 2016.

Ms. Leonardi grew up in the Middle East, spending six years in Cairo, Egypt, and nine years in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. As the daughter of a teacher, she was raised to truly believe in the power of education in changing lives. She moved back to the United States to attend the University of Miami where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education in 2011.

Ms. Leonardi lives in Pompano Beach with her husband, Ross. She serves on the vestry of her church, St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, and enjoys volunteering with the bingo ministry there. She also serves on community boards such as Ruth’s List Broward, an organization that works to get women elected to local and statewide office.

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

Special Guest: Sarah Leonardi.

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Representative Brianna Titone was elected in 2018 to represent House District 27 in Colorado. She serves as the Vice Chair of the Joint Technology Committee, and serves on the Health & Insurance and Energy & Environment Committees. Additionally, she serves as chair of the House Democrats LGBTQ Caucus. She has successfully legislated an agenda committed to eliminating gaps in consumer protections, affordable housing, healthcare, and LGBTQ rights in Colorado.

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

Special Guest: Brianna Titone.

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Joe Scott graduated from West Point and earned the Bronze Star as an Army Captain and combat leader in Iraq. He successfully voted by mail while deployed to Iraq and is acutely aware of the importance of having one’s vote count here, no matter how far away an eligible voter may be. His MBA and 20 years of combined military and technology leadership experience gives him the unique skill sets required to unify different communities and stakeholders, to improve the voting experience in Broward, and to effectively build the team and capabilities needed to ensure fair voting for all.

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

Special Guest: Joe Scott.

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Special Guest: Shevrin Jones.

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Special Guest: Emma Collum.

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Special Guest: Sabrina Javellana.

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Special Guest: Jason Kruszka.

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