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New Faces of Democracy — Government
New Faces of Democracy

Welcome to the New Faces of Democracy podcast, hosted by Nancy Bynum.

This podcast features inspiring interviews with people who have transformed their lives since 2016 and who are transforming our political landscape. These are not career politicians or former cabinet members, but ordinary citizens who are starting organizations, running for office for the first time, using their creative skills and otherwise stepping outside of their comfort zones to stand up for our democracy. Along the way, they are discovering new skills and talents and creating new communities.

Nancy felt her own personal call to action in the aftermath of the election of 2016, when it became painfully clear how important it is to use our voices to stand up for the America we believe in. As she became increasingly politically active, she witnessed the emergence of an awe-inspiring phenomenon: people changing their lives to defend our democracy. She decided that the best way for her to help would be to share the work of these change-makers, and New Faces of Democracy was born. Since then, she has dedicated herself to both spreading the word about this new wave of activism and chronicling the tremendous political and patriotic energy of this time.

This podcast elevates and celebrates these new faces, and in the process, will hopefully inspire you and maybe even galvanize you to take action on your own. These are unprecedented times, but there is a silver lining. As we become more engaged citizens, our democracy will become stronger and more resilient– in fact, it’s already happening. So if you’ve had enough depressing news and are ready to feel hopeful and maybe even optimistic about the future, head over to newfacesofdemocracy.org where you can subscribe to the podcast, watch the videos and follow New Faces of Democracy on social media.

Copyright: © Copyright 2026 Nancy Bynum

Latest Episodes:

Nisha Anand on Radical Common Ground Apr 13, 2022

Show notes

This episode features Indian-American activist and racial justice leader Nisha Anand of Dream Corps. Once a radical grassroots activist arrested in Burma for passing out pro-democracy leaflets, Nisha’s expansive organizing experience and work with mentors like Van Jones, solidified her belief in the power of working with unlikely partners to find real solutions. As Dream Corps’ CEO, Nisha leads a diverse group of people who are learning, like her, the value of unconventional relationships. Nisha and Nancy speak about how we can and must work with people across the divide to come up with lasting solutions to our biggest problems; how these solutions are enriched, not compromised, when we find common ground; and an optimistic take on our ability to tackle the climate crisis. If you’re interested in learning more about Nisha’s journey from punk-rock protester to common ground champion, check out her TED talk, The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground.

Claire Ullman and Sandy Radoff of Students for Justice Mar 30, 2022

Show notes

On this episode, Nancy speaks with Claire Ullman and Sandy Radoff of the voter outreach group Students for Justice. In 2020, Claire was a professor who was trying to help her students whose summer jobs had gone up in smoke during the covid lockdown. Sandy was an active volunteer with the Center for Common Ground. The two of them saw an untapped resource to help get out the vote of people of color in voter suppression states, and Students for Justice was born. Sandy, Claire and Nancy discuss repurposing skills from earlier careers to do good; the importance of giving students leadership and political organizing experience; building intergenerational bonds; and the very real impact that postcards, phonebanking, textbanking and social media outreach have on elections. If you liked my earlier conversation with Andrea Miller, founder of the Center of Common Ground, you’ll love learning about the ripple effects of her work here. And it’s easy for you to get involved by hosting a virtual house party to introduce your friends to Students for Justice. Just go to the “House Parties” link on their website. To learn more about Students for Justice, go to studentsforjusticevote.org.

Changing our Diets to Save the World Mar 16, 2022

Show notes

And now for something completely different with this episode on plant based eating. This is the second in a two part environmental series on thinking globally and acting locally. In the last episode, Nancy spoke with Daniel Katz of the Rainforest Alliance about the global effect of rainforest destruction on climate change and that the main cause for this destruction is cattle raising. But it’s not just cattle in rainforests that are the problem. Worldwide, animal agriculture accounts for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s more than the entire transportation sector combined, which clocks in at 13%. This all means that eating a plant based diet has more of an impact on climate than driving an electric car. So this episode focuses on acting locally, and I mean hyper-locally because the most powerful personal action we can take to fight climate change is changing our diet.

Our guides for this exploration of plant based eating are friends and veteran vegans, artist Gayle Kabaker and Suzette Moyer, design director at the Philadelphia Inquirer. Gayle, Suzette and Nancy are all at different stages of their plant-based journeys – Gayle has been a vegan for 8 years, Suzette for two and Nancy is the newcomer since a recent diagnosis of high cholesterol. In this preach-free zone, Gayle, Suzette and Nancy talk about tips, tricks, hacks and recipes, the vegan glow and demystifying weird-sounding ingredients. And if Gayle’s name sounds familiar, it’s because she appeared on earlier episode of the podcast, speaking about her work at Vital Voices to raise up women leaders around the world.

So if you want to lose weight, if you want to improve your overall health, if you’re just curious or if you want to change your diet to save the planet, then this episode is for you. And be sure to check out the website at newfacesofdemocracy.org for additional recipes and resources.

Daniel Katz on Saving Rainforests to Save the World Mar 02, 2022

Show notes

This episode with Daniel Katz of the Rainforest Alliance, is the first in a two part environmental series on thinking globally and acting locally. While you probably know that rainforests around the world are in danger, you may not know that rainforest destruction wreaks havoc on the climate and puts us all in danger. You also may not know that, here in the United States, we as consumers are culpable in aiding and abetting global rainforest destruction. Daniel and Nancy talk about the connection between rainforests and climate, why deforestation is taking place, and ways our personal choices can help save the rainforests to save the world. And if this episode gets you thinking, be sure to check out Part 2 of the series coming soon which will be a deep dive into plant based eating.

To learn more about the Rainforest Alliance, go to www.rainforest-alliance.org.

Andrea Miller: Turning the Tide for Voters of Color in the South Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

This episode features a conversation with Andrea Miller, founding board member of the Center for Common Ground. The Center for Common Ground is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to turning out the vote of people of color in voter suppression states in the South. Nancy and Andrea talk about the most devious and extreme voter suppression tactics today; the tools and techniques to fight them; and the importance of teaching people how their government works. Andrea’s tireless work may ultimately make all the difference between red and blue in the coming elections, and you will learn how you can play a part in that too. For more information on the Center for Common Ground, visit their website.

Alex Kramer of Knock for Democracy Jan 26, 2022

Show notes

On this episode, Nancy speaks with Alex Kramer of Knock for Democracy. Alex is an actor/writer who discovered he had a talent for political organizing after the 2016 election. What started in a living room with a few dozen friends had grown by 2020 to more than 5,000 volunteers who had knocked on countless doors and dialed literally millions of numbers all in the name of, yes, democracy. Alex and I talk about how making the volunteer experience fun keeps people coming back for more; the power of community experience that feels joyous, connected and personal; and bringing back the lost art of civic and civil conversation with our fellow citizens. To learn more or donate, visit knockfordemocracy.org.

Season 3 Trailer Jan 13, 2022

Show notes

Welcome to Season 3 of the New Faces of Democracy podcast, hosted by Nancy Bynum. Are you pooped from too much politics and a polarizing pandemic? Season 3 of the podcast is here to help. Because to be an engaged citizen and to save our democracy, you don’t have to act like you're on cable news. Activism doesn’t have to be angry, depleting and exhausting. Activism can be uplifting and energizing. It can connect you with communities of like minded people who care about the things you care about. And if all you have is an hour or two a week, that’s all you need. Season 3 of the New Faces of Democracy podcast will introduce you to people engaged in vitally important work making our country and planet a better place. And it will also give you ideas of ways for you to get involved. These conversations will help you find a path to sustainable, restorative activism that, like a great yoga class, takes a little work but feels really good. Please join Nancy for Season 3, coming soon at newfacesofdemocracy.org or wherever you stream your podcasts.

Melody Barnes and Laurent Dubois of UVA’s Democracy Initiative Mar 24, 2021

Show notes

This episode features Professors Melody Barnes and Laurent Dubois, co-directors of the Democracy Initiative at the University of Virginia. This interdisciplinary initiative brings together a diverse range of scholars, government leaders, practitioners and students to study the urgent challenges facing democracy today and advancing its prospects for the future. Nancy, Melody and Laurent discuss the threats to democracy from both Melody’s public policy and government background and Laurent’s historical perspective; the inherent conflict within democracies between disempowered groups voting for change and entrenched interests that seek to restrict access to the ballot; and while we have a lot of work to do, reasons to be optimistic.

https://democracyinitiative.virginia.edu

Manny Yekutiel on Coffee and Dialogue Mar 17, 2021

Show notes

This episode features a conversation with Manny Yekutiel, founder of San Francisco phenomenon, Manny’s, a civic gathering space that brings people together for coffee, bagels and discourse. In this comfortable and friendly space, people gather for debates, to hear candidates like Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, and for something increasingly rare in our country today: dialogue. Nancy and Manny talk about how people are craving in-person experiences in an increasingly digital world; how to heal our political discord; and how to make politics fun, accessible and exciting.

https://www.welcometomannys.com

Eliza Nemser of Climate Changemakers Mar 10, 2021

Show notes

This episode features a conversation with Eliza Nemser, an earth scientist who is worried about the earth. So worried, in fact, that she pivoted from science to politics to found Climate Changemakers, a group of concerned citizens who take meaningful action to elect climate candidates and advance climate policies. Eliza and Nancy talk about how we can’t science our way out of climate change, it’s a political issue; why her group is defiantly non-partisan; and what we can achieve when we carve out just one hour a week for productive, collective climate action.

To learn more, visit www.climatechangemakers.org.

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