Run For Something

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Amanda Litman is the co-founder and executive director of Run for Something (and the author of a book by the same name) -- since launching in 2017, RFS has recruited 60,000 people to run for local office across the country. Every Tuesday, you'll meet some of the RFS candidates (and newly elected public servants!): They're parents, scientists, teachers, refugees, artists, veterans, and more, of all races and ethnicities -- the one thing they all share is their commitment to solving problems in their communities. If you're new to the political process, don't worry, we'll explain how the whole thing works. Subscribe and listen in for a conversation about politics in 2020 that, in spite of everything, will make you hopeful for the future.

Recent Episodes
  • How to Run for Office
    Dec 14, 2021 – 35:39
  • How Elsa Mejia Won in a Conservative Town & Became the First Indigenous City Councilmember in Madera, CA
    Dec 7, 2021 – 21:43
  • Amber Sellers is the first Black woman elected to the Lawrence City Commission
    Nov 30, 2021 – 30:28
  • Yes, We Elect Coroners: Sophia Garcia-Jackson in Chester County, PA
    Nov 23, 2021 – 27:15
  • How to Keep Georgia Blue: A conversation with Gwinnett County Commissioners Ben Ku and Nicole Love Hendrickson
    Nov 16, 2021 – 27:45
  • Brianna Lennon explains what county clerk actually does & why you might want to be one
    Nov 9, 2021 – 32:17
  • Jasmine Crockett is not backing down from fighting for Texans
    Nov 2, 2021 – 36:20
  • If Kelly Krout Can Run a Family With 7 Kids, She Can Help Lead Arkansas
    Oct 26, 2021 – 32:04
  • Denzel McCambell is Fighting for Democracy in Detroit
    Oct 19, 2021 – 31:57
  • Shan Rose Wants to Let Kids Be Kids
    Oct 12, 2021 – 25:26
  • In Class By Day, Running for Office By Night: Justin Tseng for Medford City Council
    Oct 5, 2021 – 28:49
  • This Race is A Very Big Deal: Sheila Nezhad for Mayor of Minneapolis
    Sep 28, 2021 – 31:04
  • Keeping Georgia Blue: Dontaye Carter for Mayor of Sandy Springs, GA
    Sep 21, 2021 – 29:08
  • Elizabeth Wanczak Just Really Really Loves Local Government - That's Why She Wants to Serve In It
    Sep 14, 2021 – 40:05
  • A Very Special Episode with RFS Co-founder Ross Morales Rocketto
    Aug 31, 2021 – 29:43
  • How the Pandemic Inspired Public Health Expert Dr. Aditi Bussells to Run for Office
    Aug 24, 2021 – 36:01
  • Broward County School Board Member Sarah Leonardi is Taking On the Florida Governor to Fight for Kids
    Aug 17, 2021 – 29:40
  • Go Blue! How University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker's Age Makes Him Better at His Job
    Aug 10, 2021 – 36:07
  • Ruthzee Louijeune Is Going to Bring Affordable Housing to Boston
    Aug 3, 2021 – 31:36
  • From Hair Stylist to Black Lives Matter Activist to Candidate: Bridgette Craighead is Going to Flip Her Virginia District Blue
    Jul 27, 2021 – 30:42
  • Why Texas Democrats Had to Flee Texas to Do Their Jobs and Fight for Democracy, with Reps. Erin Zwiener and James Talarico
    Jul 20, 2021 – 54:06
  • You're Going to Fall in Love with Dr. Tyler Titus
    Jul 13, 2021 – 37:56
  • Rhode Island Sen. Cynthia Mendes On Why Young Women of Color Need To Claim Their Power
    Jul 6, 2021 – 33:31
  • Why A Queer Latinx Architect Should Be Mayor of Seattle - Andrew Grant Houston
    Jun 29, 2021 – 29:35
  • The First Latinx Leader in the NC State House: Ricky Hurtado
    Jun 22, 2021 – 39:25
  • India Walton Is Going to Be the First Woman Mayor of Buffalo
    Jun 15, 2021 – 28:55
  • Amanda Farías Is Who The Bronx Needs in City Hall
    Jun 8, 2021 – 35:08
  • How Jennifer Kitchen Plans To Flip A Red Seat Blue in Rural Virginia
    Jun 1, 2021 – 27:40
  • Black Lives Matter Activist Chi Ossé Is Ready to Represent Brooklyn
    May 25, 2021 – 33:18
  • From Berkeley Graduation to Berkeley City Council - Rigel Robinson's Leading When It Matters Most
    May 18, 2021 – 33:50
  • What Happens When A Queer Muslim Woman Runs for Office Again - Liliana Bakhtiari for Atlanta City Council
    May 11, 2021 – 32:24
  • From First-time Activist to First-time Candidate: Justan Fields for Allentown City Council
    May 4, 2021 – 29:11
  • The "Squad" of Sacramento - City Councilmembers Katie Valenzuela and Mai Vang
    Apr 27, 2021 – 43:15
  • Following In The Footsteps of Barack Obama - IL State Sen. Robert Peters
    Apr 20, 2021 – 51:23
  • How To Talk to Trump Voters with Maine State Senator Chloe Maxmin
    Apr 13, 2021 – 37:48
  • Boston City Council Candidate Kendra Hicks Is a Rising Star
    Apr 6, 2021 – 31:47
  • Cleveland Can't Wait: Why Justin Bibb is Running for Mayor
    Mar 30, 2021 – 26:38
  • How Denver School Board Director Tay Anderson Became the Youngest Elected Official in Colorado
    Mar 23, 2021 – 25:11
  • Marche' Johnson Lost By 6 Votes The First Time - That Won't Happen Again
    Mar 16, 2021 – 30:50
  • Why NY state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi is Furious (And Unapologetic About It)
    Mar 9, 2021 – 42:17
  • Nida Allam Was The First Muslim Woman Elected in North Carolina - She Won't Be The Last
    Mar 2, 2021 – 30:50
  • Meet Gabriella Cázares-Kelly, the First Indigenous Woman Elected in Pima County, Arizona
    Feb 23, 2021 – 30:21
  • A Day in the Life of Kerri-Ann Nesbeth, Candidate for Miramar City Council
    Feb 9, 2021 – 30:41
  • Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit on What Progressive Criminal Justice Looks Like
    Feb 2, 2021 – 36:53
  • NY State Sen. Zellnor Myrie on What Government Can Actually Do
    Jan 26, 2021 – 40:45
  • How to Celebrate National Run for Office Day!
    Jan 19, 2021 – 30:53
  • On Georgia & the coup - plus, meet Alex Lee, the first Gen-Z legislator in California
    Jan 12, 2021 – 36:52
  • Sen. Megan Hunt: The Nebraska Progressive Who Won't Ever Stop Fighting
    Jan 5, 2021 – 43:38
  • Michigan Reps. Mari Manoogian and Kyra Bolden On How To Mix Friendship and Politics
    Dec 15, 2020 – 45:28
  • The Trailblazers: A Conversation with Del. Danica Roem, Rep. Brianna Titone, and Sen. Sarah McBride
    Dec 8, 2020 – 59:27
Recent Reviews
  • JessicaSchlueter
    This podcast is pure gold!
    **Update(8/31/21): I came to leave a glowing review, forgetting that I had already done so in February! In the six months since I left my first review, I’ve joined the campaign teams of two RFS endorsed City Council candidates in my area. I credit RFS entirely for sparking my interest in local down ballot races. I am LOVING the work, and I could not be more grateful to Amanda & her team for getting me involved!** Original review: I’m an avid listener of political podcasts, but this is the first time I’ve had to repeatedly pause a show to take written notes! I’ve been working on transitioning into the world of professional politics, hoping to use my skills to support progressive candidates & leaders. For this mission, I can’t imagine a more valuable source of knowledge than this podcast that features interviews with young, compassionate, and innovative elected (or soon to be elected!) officials. Amanda Litman demystifies the political process in a way that makes running for office (or supporting the smart, ethical people doing so) feel not only possible, but almost compulsory. Amanda’s wisdom is complimented by her fantastic guests, whose diverse identities, fascinating backstories, and bold plans informed by their own personal struggles prove Amanda’s theory: that tangible progress (both for the Democratic Party and our nation as a whole) cannot be achieved without uplifting and empowering new progressive leaders in every single election. I’m truly grateful to the Run For Something team for keeping me informed and inspired with every new episode.
  • KaraZielinski
    Fabulous!
    So great to learn about so many amazing progressive candidates
  • Fstgrl
    Important work!
    I became aware of Amanda’s work from some other podcasts I listen too. I just started listening and am so impressed with this organization! Rather than being left with a sense of dread about current events, I feel a sense of hope! I am in my late 50’s and it’s wonderful to hear about many young people stepping up to do the right things!!
  • Miles Lewis artist
    Important and Under-Covered
    I think that Amanda and RFS are doing critical work. I understand the partisan critique from other reviewers but frankly appreciate the degree to which these Democratic representatives (especially in Republican majority situations) can effectively work on compromise and bridge-building policy initiatives. We've all got agendas. The trick is in how necessary work can still get done locally and how that eventually unifies us nationally. My one major programming suggestion is to widen the scope of diversity. Gender, Race, and Sexuality are a fine basis - but there's more to cover in diversity of mentality, sensibility, and worldview. RFS has a big opportunity to represent the diversity of belief in the left wing, while providing some counter to the hardening of progressive ideology.
  • KaplanInCarolina
    Great stuff
    Thanks for doing this. Really enjoying the show and the book. It feels really lonely doing this kind of work in a rural area. Your show has become a comforting oasis I start trying to do the good work of uplifting my community.
  • Hygtfred
    Huge fan of organization and now THIS PODCAST!
    Been following Run For Something since Amanda and Ross launched it and published the book. Recently discovered this podcast. Hearing such inspiring young, progressive candidates and how to help them is the best part of my week - I’ve been going back and listening to the episodes that aired before discovering the podcast it’s THAT GOOD! If you’re progressive and want to learn about the next Gen of Democratic leaders - this is it! Great job Amanda!
  • idyllsunday
    Immoral
    Running for “something,” as a concept, is deeply immoral. Convincing people to run for office is not an inherent good in any way.
  • rosiescout
    love it! ❤️❤️
    p.s. it’s Jamaica Plain, not Jamaica Plains.
  • NKG120
    What if you’re not “progressive”?
    Can you join RFS if you’re conservative/Republican?
  • Jpal86
    Important work from RFS
    This podcast gives you an inside view into progressive candidates and why they’re exactly what we need in America.
  • James Kriha
    Illiterate on Politics
    Don’t waste your time with this show. This show pushes a very illogical political agenda.
  • Felden
    Great show
    This podcast is everything you’d hope it to be, and more.
  • Scotthearn94
    Good but misidentifies
    This a good podcast if you solely want to understand, and identify with, the Democratic Party. It is essentially only for those folks and is not all encompassing in a political sense.
  • Dat Youngin
    Epic
    Very inspiring
  • Heatherouaf
    If political bigotry is your thing... this is for you.
    This is probably the worst podcast I’ve ever heard. Her political bias without evidence is literally nauseating. There are far better options out there, this one will cost you some brain cells... unless your into gaslighting. 😉
  • LenaJones77
    Inspiring and incredible
    Absolutely love this show
  • Lydberry333
    Empowering AF!
    Truly the podcast we needed!! Inspirational and empowering are an UNDERSTATEMENT.
  • Hollylulamae
    Inspiring!
    I'm so stoked this is a podcast. It's really inspiring to listen to the candidate stories so far. I can't wait to hear more! This gives me hope
  • Christiana Morgenroth
    LFG
    SO excited for this podcast. Love hearing from women in office and I know this will inspire so many women to go for it!
  • RossR123
    Fun, high energy, and hopeful
    If you need a respite from all of the rage spiraling this pod gives you that plus some. If you want to sound super smart with your friends as you talk about up and coming Congressional, Senate, Gubernatorial, and Presidential candidates this is your spot!
  • Standpipe box
    Amanda Litman is a boss!
    I’m here for whatever Amanda is up to. Let’s do this!
  • Pmp87
    Motivating and Inspiring!
    This is just what I need to get educated for the upcoming election! So inspiring.
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