In this week's episode, co-host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor about her path from academia and school board service to county leadership. They talk about her decision to run for school board first, what led her to public service, and how Delaware County flipped its government after decades of one-party GOP rule. They also discuss the county's work to create a health department, deprivatize its prison, expand workforce development, and make social services easier for residents to access. Dr. Taylor shares how her academic work informs her approach to public service, why "health in all policies" matters at the county level, and how lessons from basketball have influenced her leadership style. Tune in to hear how Dr. Taylor's work in Delaware County shows what local government can do when public service is grounded in access and accountability.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:12] Hear how Dr. Taylor moved from higher education into county government.

• [05:55] Learn about Delaware County and how the Democrats flipped it.

• [07:23] Understand what changed on the ground to build a stronger local majority.

• [08:46] Explore which issues helped connect Democrats with Delaware County voters.

• [10:45] Examine how public office has shaped Dr. Taylor's academic work.

• [12:30] Unpack what "health in all policies" means at the county level.

• [14:47] Discover Delaware County's biggest wins and Dr. Taylor's next priorities.

• [16:41] Find out what it takes to deprivatize a county prison.

• [18:47] Insights into how basketball shaped Dr. Taylor's leadership style.

• [21:24] Uncover what Pennsylvania voters are focused on now.

• [23:59] Dr. Taylor shares how she balances service, family, and career.

In this week's episode, co-host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Wyoming House Democratic Leader Mike Yin. They discuss how his district includes Jackson Hole -- one of the most beautiful and wealthiest places in the world, sitting alongside Grand Teton National Park. But beneath that natural beauty are serious challenges, from growing income inequality to limited access to affordable housing and healthcare. The conversation covers what it means to represent a community facing those realities while serving in one of the most Republican states in the country. Yin shares how he works across the aisle to build support for legislation that improves healthcare access, addresses housing affordability, and responds to local communities' needs. They also talk about Yin's path to elected office and the challenge of balancing public service with a full-time career, and his experience as the first Chinese American legislator in Wyoming history. Tune in to learn about governing across divides and finding ways to create change where it matters most.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [01:04] Introducing Wyoming State Representative Mike Yin and the community he serves.

• [02:41] Governing in a legislature where Democrats hold only a small minority.

• [03:50] Building bipartisan coalitions to advance healthcare and infrastructure policy.

• [08:13] The state of healthcare access and rural healthcare funding in Wyoming.

• [10:36] Addressing housing affordability and inequality in one of America's wealthiest regions.

• [13:33] Balancing legislative service with a full-time career as a software developer.

• [15:29] Advice for governing effectively and finding common ground in red states.

• [16:43] The realities of balancing legislative service, full-time work, and private life.

• [18:41] Why Mike sees opportunities for Democrats to gain ground in Wyoming.

• [19:35] What being Wyoming's first Chinese American legislator means to him.

• [21:33] Why Mike remains focused on local leadership and serving his community.

In this week's episode, co-host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Redmond, WA, Mayor Angela Birney to discuss how she is leading a city shaped by new investments and rapid population growth while keeping community needs at the forefront. They discuss how the city is using transit-focused development, zoning reform, and middle housing construction to create more options for residents. The conversation also covers the role of data and science in local government, how the city is navigating AI, climate goals, and long-term planning in a fast-changing city. Tune in to learn about Mayor Birney's path to public office and what Redmond's story of recent growth from a small town to a bustling city says about how we should design our cities for the modern era.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:18] Learn about Redmond's growth, natural setting, and major tech employers.

• [03:33] Hear how Mayor Angela Birney works with Redmond's major global employers.

• [04:38] How Mayor Birney advocates for Redmond in high-stakes corporate environments.

• [05:57] Find out how Redmond is balancing growth, affordability, and community identity.

• [07:13] Discover how regional and federal partnerships helped bring light rail to Redmond.

• [08:32] Understand how light rail is reshaping daily life in Redmond.

• [10:16] Explore how Redmond is tackling housing demand and affordability.

• [12:27] Uncover how inclusionary zoning supports Redmond's housing goals.

• [16:20] Mayor Birney shares how her teaching background led her to public service.

• [19:47] What makes serving as mayor both rewarding and challenging.

• [21:55] See how Redmond is approaching AI in society and government.

• [24:27] Unpack how Mayor Birney is planning for Redmond's long-term future.

• [27:14] Final takeaways and why she values learning from other NewDEAL leaders.

In this week's episode, host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with Jason Altmire and Riley Burr, authors of the recently published book, Trade Up: Why the Future Belongs to Skilled Trades and How Career Education is Transforming the Workforce. Their conversation touches on how skilled workers will help power the infrastructure of the AI revolution, and what is keeping people from accessing trade schools and alternative career paths that can provide immense opportunities in today's economy. Tune in to learn more about the future of skilled trades.

Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:

career.org

tradeupbook.com

IN TODAY'S EPISODE:

• [01:30] An introduction to today's guests and topic of discussion.

• [02:50] Defining the problem: the gap between jobs and skills.

• [05:12] Riley unpacks the scope of the skills gap.

• [06:30] How AI is impacting the issue and their thoughts on what might happen in the future.

• [11:20] They pinpoint the barriers to getting more kids onto the trades-career path.

• [13:40] What students might experience if they pursue an education at a trade school.

• [17:00] They discuss other paths that exist to close the gap, like apprenticeships.

• [21:00] What we can learn from Switzerland regarding apprenticeships.

• [22:30] The role trade unions play.

• [23:00] What policymakers can do to create more access and opportunities for trade education.

• [27:47] How policymakers can respond to what Gen Z wants.

• [29:20] Concluding thoughts from our guests on today's topic of conversation.

In this week's episode, host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read to discuss how he is navigating the Trump Administration's efforts to interfere with state election administration, the state's recent primary elections, threats to our democracy, his experience being sued by the Trump administration, and what other states can learn from Oregon's vote-at-home system. They specifically delve into the unconstitutional mail-in-ballot executive order and its impracticality. The Secretary emphasizes the importance of holding politicians accountable to protect our right to vote and how politicians should go about earning constituents' trust.Tune in to hear how Secretary Read is working to ensure free, fair, and secure elections are not a partisan idea, but a patriotic one.

In this week's episode, co-host Ryan Coonery speaks with Lawrenceburg, IN Councilmember Dylan Liddle to discuss his city and its unique financial structure, and how the city has changed over the last year. They also discuss his upbringing and how his parent's addiction shapes his decisions, what it's like to be the only Democrat on a Republican council, and the best, worst, and most surprising parts of being elected to local government. The conversation covers Liddle's policy priorities and what other local governments can learn from those policies. Tune in to hear some words of wisdom for anyone who wants to run for local office.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [01:46] A little bit about Lawrenceburg and how it's changed in the last year.

• [04:03] Dylan's focus on affordability and the success he's had in that area.

• [06:48] His journey to public office and how his upbringing has affected his decisions.

• [09:49] How he balances the demands of a political career with everyday life.

• [13:09] Why Dylan decided to take the more difficult path of being a Democrat.

• [15:01] What he thinks the Democratic Party can do to support more wins in smaller areas.

• [16:53] Dylan shares some advice for anyone wanting to run for local office.

• [18:12] What's surprised him about his new role and the best and worst parts.

• [20:02] How our guest sets his agenda and decides what he will focus on in terms of policy.

• [26:24] What's happening politically in Lawrenceburg and how National politics impacts that.

In this special bonus episode of An Honorable Profession, recorded at the NewDEAL Forum Ideas Summit in Raleigh, North Carolina, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bolton sits down with the Co-Hosts of The Hometown Holler, Daniel Ayers and Quinn Ray. They talk about the responsibility to be civically engaged and using their platform to reach North Carolina voters. Ayers and Ray share insights on how to inform, entertain, and inspire listeners, encouraging them to take the next step in their political involvement. Tune in for a great conversation about communicating authentically online.

In this week's episode, co-host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Iowa State Senator Matt Blake about how he approaches the role of being a Democratic leader in a red state that has swung hard toward Donald Trump's Republican Party. Their conversation delves into Blake's path to public office, the impact his military experience has had on his career, his current policy focus, and how he makes progress for his constituents in a legislature that is often focused on priorities that are very different than his own. Tune in to also learn how Senator Blake balances his professional and personal life.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [01:09] Introducing today's guest, Senator Matt Blake.

• [02:09] The current political landscape of his state, Iowa.

• [07:10] A brief overview of Senator Blake's path to public service and career.

• [11:56] How his military experience informs his policy-making and approach to politics.

• [14:33] Senator Blake shares some advice for veterans entering public life.

• [16:47] What he's working on now and how he's trying to serve his constituents and his state.

• [21:13] His approach to bipartisanship and how he makes decisions and compromises.

• [23:55] How Senator Blake uses his legal experience to help seniors with their concerns.

• [26:48] Navigating work and personal life, and how he keeps everything running smoothly.

In this special bonus episode of An Honorable Profession, recorded at the NewDEAL Forum Ideas Summit in Raleigh, North Carolina, Debbie Cox Bolton sits down with Amanda Gonzalez, Jefferson County, CO Clerk and Recorder. The conversation dives into the current state of our democracy, starting with the impact of the Supreme Court's ruling on the Voting Rights Act and how Colorado has proactively passed its own state-level protections to safeguard the right to vote.

Gonzalez shares her insights on the resilience and security of mail-in voting, debunking common myths about fraud while highlighting its practical benefits for voters across the political spectrum. She also discusses the extensive contingency planning being done in her office to ensure every vote is counted. Finally, Amanda addresses the critical issue of election worker safety, sharing the reality of challenges poll workers face today and why transparency remains the best tool for building public trust in our electoral system.

In this week's episode, Raleigh, NC, Mayor Janet Cowell joins us from the NewDEAL Forum Ideas Summit to discuss her approach to leading one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. The conversation digs into housing supply needs and affordability, as well as her data-driven approach to public safety and traffic safety. The conversation also covers her path into public service, from her career as a Councilwoman to serving as State Senator, then becoming the first state-wide female Treasurer of the State, and now, Mayor. They talk about the value of collaboration in delivering results and why she compares being an elected official to living in Technicolor. Tune in to Mayor Cowell's pro tips for experiencing the best of Raleigh, and her definition of what a successful Democrat looks like today.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [01:03] Raleigh, North Carolina, Mayor Janet Cowell's leadership in a fast-growing state.

• [03:34] How she is effectively working to support affordable housing in her state.

• [08:43] Law enforcement, youth empowerment, and data-driven resource allocation.

• [11:34] Her path into public service from a mission and values-driven childhood to politics.

• [12:47] Engaging the people of North Carolina.

• [15:52] What prompted her to run for mayor, and how she describes life in public service.

• [18:01] Her success as the first statewide woman treasurer of North Carolina.

• [23:25] Highlights you can't afford to miss in Raleigh.

• [24:57] How Mayor Cowell came to land in her state.

• [26:19] What a successful democrat looks like in North Carolina in 2026.