Elected Women Across America

Latest Episodes:

This Elected Woman is Putting People Over Programs in the Arkansas Workforce Oct 27, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to Elected Women Across America, an NFWL podcast brought to you by the National Foundation for Women Legislators and featuring elected women with common goals to exchange legislative ideas and reach across the aisle. Hosted by Brenna Kehew Sculley, this podcast provides a direct line to the leaders that the organization empowers.

In this episode, Brenna welcomes back NFWL Board Member and Arkansas State Representative Mary Bentley. Drawing on her background as a small business owner, registered nurse, former volunteer firefighter, and rural champion, Representative Bentley breaks down why state workforce systems must become people-oriented rather than program-oriented. She shares her insights from a deep-dive audit into Arkansas's workforce funding and outlines how she used other states (such as Utah, Louisiana, West Virginia, and Virginia) to integrate policy that can best serve her rural communities.

Don't forget to sign up for your podcast spot at this year's Annual Conference in Nashville, November 9-11!

For more information and resources from the National Foundation for Women Legislators, you can visit us at www.womenlegislators.org.

For more information and resources from the National Foundation for Women Legislators, you can visit us at www.womenlegislators.org.
Subscribe to “Elected Women Across America” on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1699102541

Follow “Elected Women Across America” on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7drASscWr3MVxzNi5hRN0N

Follow “Elected Women” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/electedwomen/

This Elected Woman Wiped Out $230M of Medical Debt for Toledoans Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

Brenna sits down with Ohio State Representative Michele Grim, who shares her journey from Toledo City Council to the Ohio House where she successfully leveraged ARPA funds to erase over $230 million in medical debt for more than 112,000 local residents. Tune in to hear her path from the city to, now, the state level with a bipartisan playbook to cap medical debt interest rates and to establish essential housing protections for domestic violence survivors.

Plus! Brenna is joined by Caren Howard from Mental Health America to preview their upcoming Policy Institute on Tuesday, October 6th in Washington, D.C. Hear from experts and peers who are helping bring attention to the importance of the mental health and substance abuse workforce- and the important impact that policy can make on improvements in education in the space. Can't make it? A recording will be available for our elected women following the event.

For more information and resources from the National Foundation for Women Legislators, you can visit us at www.womenlegislators.org.

Follow “Elected Women Across America” on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7drASscWr3MVxzNi5hRN0N

Follow “Elected Women” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/electedwomen/

This Elected Woman Is Writing A Playbook for AI in Healthcare Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

We're back from our summer summits—the inaugural AI Summit and our annual Healthcare Summit—where bipartisan leaders gathered to tackle AI governance, workforce development, and chronic disease prevention (to name a few!)

This week we'll hear from a friend of the podcast, Florida Senator Gayle Harrell. Uniquely positioned as a 24-year veteran of the legislature with decades of experience running a medial practice, Senator Harrell details how she's navigating the integration of AI in the medical field—from cybersecurity to chatbot safeguards—while ultimately leaving decision-making in the hands of physicians.

Plus! We're back with Executive Director and Clifton Strengths Expert Renee Hoffner Dabbs, continuing to empower our elected women through NFWL's Leadership Academy. Tune in this week to learn how you can set more effective goals with your unique Strengths in mind.

Follow “Elected Women Across America” on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7drASscWr3MVxzNi5hRN0N

Follow “Elected Women” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/electedwomen/

This Elected Woman on the Curriculum Change That Led Her to the Legislature Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

This week we'll hear from a familiar voice from our summit, Maryland Delegate April Miller. As one of NFWL's newest board members, Delegate Miller joined us recently on Elected Women to discuss social media safety and creating a healthier, more age-appropriate digital experience for our kids. We're continuing that conversation to hear how Delegate Miller is keeping kids a priority in Maryland's education system and how a successful, bipartisan legislation to provide human trafficking awareness training for healthcare professionals is being put into practice.

Plus! Mark your calendars! NFWL is hosting an interactive online strengths workshop on Tuesday, September 15th at 1:00 PM Eastern Time. Be sure to join us to learn how leveraging your unique strengths can enhance your leadership and legislative impact.

Submissions for the Women of Excellence Awards are open throughout the year! Head to our website to nominate an elected woman who inspires you, and join us for our upcoming November Annual Conference to keep these vital conversations moving forward. Reach out to Brenna at brenna@womenlegislators.org to add your voice to the conversation!

Follow “Elected Women Across America” on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7drASscWr3MVxzNi5hRN0N

Follow “Elected Women” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/electedwomen/

This Elected Woman is Getting Georgia Ready for Back-to-School Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

Tune in to hear from the voices of our summit, starting with Georgia State Representative Doreen Carter. Representative Carter shares how her journey from the corporate world to public service was fueled by community advocacy and breaks down Georgia's recent strides in early childhood literacy, the critical role of elementary school literacy coaches, and her strategic, bipartisan efforts to strengthen public schools, retain top teaching talent, and close voucher loopholes.

Plus! Hear from Sonya Thompson ofCompass Connections to discuss the impactful work her organization is doing to support families, caregivers, and communities across the nation.

For more information and resources from the National Foundation for Women Legislators, you can visit us at www.womenlegislators.org.

Follow “Elected Women Across America” on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7drASscWr3MVxzNi5hRN0N

Follow “Elected Women” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/electedwomen/

This Elected Woman's Playbook for Keeping It Cool Under Pressure Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Brenna sits down with NFWL Board Member and New Jersey Assemblywoman Carol Murphy. Currently serving as Deputy Speaker and Chairwoman of the Health Committee, Assemblywoman Murphy shares her deep passion for expanding healthcare access ahead of NFWL's 2026 Healthcare Summit. Tune in to hear what's next on Assemblywoman Murphy's healthcare agenda for 2026 and her powerful career advice as a veteran legislator: lead with passion and not anger and never let them see you sweat.

Plus! How can you balance your passion for your constituents without burning out? NFWL empowers elected women through our Leadership Academy, and we'll continue to feature a special leadership segment with our interim Executive Director and CliftonStrengths certified coach Renee Dabbs. Hear from Renee on how understanding your unique strengths can help you establish critical guardrails, protect your energy, and combat burnout. You can learn more about NFWL's Leadership Academy and resources here.

Follow “Elected Women Across America” on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7drASscWr3MVxzNi5hRN0N

Follow “Elected Women” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/electedwomen/

This Elected Woman is Leveraging Kindness as a Policy Framework Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to Elected Women Across America, a podcast brought to you by the National Foundation for Women Legislators and featuring elected women with common goals to exchange legislative ideas and reach across the aisle. Hosted by Brenna Kehew Sculley, this podcast provides a direct line to the leaders that the organization empowers.

In this episode, Brenna connects with one of our recent NFWL Women of Excellence Award winners: Lakewood, California Mayor Cassandra Chase. An educator, social impact leader, and entrepreneur, Mayor Chase shares her journey from a local Girl Scout to becoming her city's chief. She dives into her unique mayoral framework—the "Year of Kindness, Care, and Civic Action"—and how practicing joy has evolved from a personal philosophy to a policy framework.

Plus! We are joined in the studio by NFWL’s very own Executive Director Renee Dabbs for another Leadership Academy session—this time on tackling burnout in practical ways. At NFWL, we'll continue these conversations throughout the summer, featured on our podcast and in our Leadership Academy sessions. You can find the schedule for those sessions on our website here.

Submissions for the Women of Excellence Awards are open throughout the year! Hear a highlight from NFWL's own Anna Hale of our Women of Excellence so far and head to our website to nominate an elected woman who inspires you and help us continue to elevate these essential voices.

For more information and resources from the National Foundation for Women Legislators, you can visit us at www.womenlegislators.org.

Follow “Elected Women Across America” on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7drASscWr3MVxzNi5hRN0N

Follow “Elected Women” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/electedwomen/

This Elected Woman is Giving Back to the Senior Village that Raised Her Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Brenna sits down with Councilwoman Toyia Tucker of Columbus, Georgia. An Air Force veteran who was raised by a village of educators and military leaders, Councilwoman Tucker shares why her primary focus in office is giving back to the senior community that raised her. Representing one of Georgia’s largest cities, she details her hands-on approach to local leadership and explores how to tackle the hard choices of local governance with empathy, ensuring seniors can navigate inflation and age in place with the dignity they deserve.

Submissions for the Women of Excellence Awards are open throughout the year! Tune in to hear Communications Coordinator Anna Hale highlight some of our 2026 Award winners. Head to our website to nominate an elected woman who inspires you.

For more information and resources from the National Foundation for Women Legislators, you can visit us at www.womenlegislators.org.

Follow “Elected Women Across America” on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7drASscWr3MVxzNi5hRN0N

Follow “Elected Women” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/electedwomen/

This Elected Women is Bringing Fireside Chats Back for Her Constituents May 26, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Brenna sits down with Colorado State Representative Sheila Lieder. A "JeffCo mom" and longtime labor advocate who transitioned from a 38-year telecom career to the State House, Representative Lieder shares her unique approach to staying accessible by hosting literal fireside chats with her community ahead of a diverse legislative lineup for 2026. As Vice Chair of Health and Human Services, she digs into her diverse 2026 legislative lineup, including protecting retirees through portable homestead exemptions, expanding preventative healthcare for chronic kidney disease, and fighting for consumer data privacy.

Plus! We turn to Renee Dabbs, our resident CliftonStrengths expert and interim Executive Director, for a Leadership Academy check-in. Tune in to hear how you can take this time to reconnect with your strengths and continue to grow as legislative session slows down. Check out NFWL's Leadership Academy page for more resources and access the schedule for this summer's leadership webinars!

Submissions for the Women of Excellence Awards are open throughout the year! Head to our website to nominate an elected woman who inspires you.

Follow “Elected Women Across America” on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7drASscWr3MVxzNi5hRN0N

Follow “Elected Women” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/electedwomen/

This Elected Woman Ran on Educating and Empowering Her Constituents May 11, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Brenna sits down with two dynamic Delaware leaders dedicated to community unity. We first hear from Mayor Tabitha Gott of Smyrna on how she is celebrating her community roots ahead of the nation's 250th birthday celebration, and bringing the "hometown" spirit back to her constituents with new resources across youth groups, fire departments, and local businesses. We then hear from Councilwoman Michelle Harlee, whose mission to "educate and empower" her constituents through legislation formed her campaign for council. Councilwoman Harlee shares her vision for 2026 and what she's bringing to her communities in need.

This week kicks off Period Poverty Awareness Week (May 11-17)! Hear from Jennifer Herrera, Executive Director of PERIOD., as she digs into the organization's mission to eradicate period poverty and stigma through education, service, and advocacy. Tune in to hear how you can help close the period poverty gap in your own communities as elected women.

Submissions for the Women of Excellence Awards are now open! This award was created to identify elected women who have worked tirelessly, often breaking down barriers, to serve their communities. We'll be featuring select Women of Excellence in our podcast episodes. You can recognize your colleagues here.

Follow “Elected Women Across America” on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7drASscWr3MVxzNi5hRN0N

Follow “Elected Women” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/electedwomen/

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Elected Women Across America

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected