Columbus City Council candidate Tiara Ross joins the podcast to talk about growing up in Columbus as a preacher's grandkid, finding her path in law at OSU and leaving corporate life to serve the public. She shares how her work with the city attorney's office shaped her perspective on housing, zoning and over-enforcement in gentrifying neighborhoods.

Tiara also discusses food access, public safety, police accountability and how council can be more proactive in meeting community needs. Plus, she responds to recent headlines about parking tickets and what it's like being under scrutiny as a candidate.

00:00 Nostalgia Moment

03:01 Meet Tiara Ross

06:40 Upbringing and Family Background

17:02 Journey to Becoming an Attorney

23:23 Working in the City Attorney's Office

27:39 Challenges in Housing and Code Enforcement

35:06 Community Safety Concerns

38:24 Engaging with the Community and Government

44:43 Addressing Housing and Tenant Protections

55:10 Public Safety and Community Policing

01:09:09 Personal Accountability and Campaign Challenges

01:16:36 Final Thoughts

Subscribe to Columbus Can't Wait on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ for video.

Hosted by Tareya. Recorded and shot at Statehouse Studio. Executive Producers: Tareya Palmer and Taijuan Nichole Moorman.

Columbus City Council candidate Kate Curry-Da-Souza joins the podcast to discuss her background, her work on the Near East Area Commission, and her ties to the Near East Side. She shares her thoughts on tackling food insecurity, housing, transportation and the city’s new district system. She also talks about her decision to run for council, her goals for accessibility and accountability, and why creative solutions are key to addressing Columbus' challenges.

00:00 Reflections on Education

02:21 Introducing Kate Curry-Da-Souza

04:11 Community Engagement and Neighborhood Bonds

05:28 Kate's Background and Upbringing

06:50 Housing and Community Stability

19:34 Running for City Council: Motivations and Vision

25:18 Kate's Near East Area Commission Experience and Impact

34:18 Decision-Making Dilemmas

35:16 Trust in Political Processes

37:12 Community Engagement and Representation

41:55 Creative Solutions for Local Issues

51:27 Transportation Challenges and Opportunities

55:49 Addressing the Housing Crisis

01:06:15 Commitment to Accountability

Subscribe to Columbus Can't Wait on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ for video.

Hosted by Tareya. Recorded and shot at Statehouse Studio. Executive Producers: Tareya Palmer and Taijuan Nichole Moorman.

Elizabeth Brown⁠ contributions to our 2024 Election coverage on the podcast. The ⁠YWCA⁠ CEO talks her transition from city council and the work the organization does, voting access and the distrust marginalized communities have, fair districts and how school funding is related to Issue 1, those political ads against her dad, Sherrod Brown, and much more.

Subscribe to Columbus Can't Wait on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ for video.

Hosted by Tareya. Recorded and shot at Statehouse Studio. Executive Producers: Tareya Palmer and Taijuan Nichole Moorman.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:16 Liz Brown's Political Journey

03:11 YWCA's Mission and Advocacy

05:49 Challenges in Voting Rights

11:51 Gerrymandering and Issue One

15:28 Local Ballot Initiatives

17:44 Importance of Supreme Court Races

21:55 Engaging Marginalized Communities in Voting

23:26 Understanding Voter Apathy

24:12 The Importance of Fair Districts

25:50 Political Commercials and Their Impact

26:47 Defending Her Dad's Legacy

28:14 The Right-Wing Playbook

30:33 Shares a Story about Sherrod Brown

34:55 The Fight for Public Education

42:27 Get Out and Vote

43:24 YWCA Columbus: How You Can Help

Jordan Hawkins of the Ohio Young Black Democrats joins us for his 4th (!) appearance on the show for an informative and reflective conversation ahead of the 2024 general election. We discuss the transition from Biden to Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, how it's impacted his role and young Black Democrats, the dog-whistle politics surrounding Haitian immigration, the handling of the genocide in Gaza, Ohio's U.S. Senate race, Issue 1, voting rights and much more.

Subscribe to Columbus Can't Wait on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ for video.

Hosted by Tareya. Recorded and shot at Statehouse Studio. Executive Producers: Tareya Palmer and Taijuan Nichole Moorman.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we have Rachel Crowder of Black Health Lit on the podcast to talk health and self-advocacy.

We discuss how the death of George Floyd inspired her to create the consultancy firm and podcast, her cancer journey, how to advocate for yourself in health systems, racism in healthcare, health misinformation, relaxers and other environmental cancer causing products, health policy from Washington down to the local level and more.

Subscribe to Columbus Can't Wait on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ for video.

Hosted by Tareya. Recorded and shot at Statehouse Studio. Executive Producers: Tareya Palmer and Taijuan Nichole Moorman.

Raphael Davis-Williams once again joins us on the podcast to talk all things 2024 general election. We get into what's changed (and hasn't) since the last go-round, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Ohio's races, including the significance of the Ohio Supreme Court race.

Raphael also walks us through the court and how the outcome of this race will affect our everyday lives, with impacts on abortion, voting rights and more.

Check your voter registration here: voterlookup.ohiosos.gov

Subscribe to Columbus Can't Wait on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ for video.

Hosted by Tareya. Recorded and shot at Statehouse Studio. Executive Producers: Tareya Palmer and Taijuan Nichole Moorman.

Ekundayo Igeleke and Khamall Jahi of Black Men Build join us to chat about their mission, perspectives on masculinity and leadership, intersectionality in the fight for Black liberation, challenges with organizing and creating a space for political education and healing.

We also get into the New Men Tour — a celebration and conversation on healing set to hit Columbus Aug. 24 — the work and impact of Ernest Levert Jr., their favorite white shows and more.

Support the Levert family here.

Subscribe to Columbus Can't Wait on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ for video.

Hosted by Tareya. Recorded and shot at Statehouse Studio. Executive Producers: Tareya Palmer and Taijuan Nichole Moorman.

Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin joins us on the show for the first time since 2021, for a special episode that delves into the city's much talked about zoning reform initiative.

If you've been wondering what the zoning conversation is all about and how it directly impacts your daily life, we have Shannon break it down. Plus, he gets into what zoning has to do with LinkUS and transportation, protecting renters, investing in working-class folks, what's changed about the political landscape since the last time we talked and more.

This initiative has wide-ranging implications that could affect Columbus for decades to come. Tune in.

More info: zone-in-columbus.hub.arcgis.com

Subscribe to Columbus Can't Wait on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ for video.

Hosted by Tareya. Recorded and shot at Statehouse Studio. Executive Producers: Tareya Palmer and Taijuan Nichole Moorman.

Note: This episode was recorded before the leaked document controversy.

Subscribe to Columbus Can't Wait on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ for video.

Hosted by Tareya. Recorded and shot at Statehouse Studio. Executive Producers: Tareya Palmer and Taijuan Nichole Moorman.

Our final pre-primary interview is with Stephanie Hanna, candidate for judge in the only contested Franklin County Common Pleas Court judge race. As a lesser known name on the ballot, her interview highlights her interesting background starting as a Republican, transitioning to a Democrat and her realization on why it matters. She also gets into the uphill battle of the sample ballot (on which she's not endorsed on), her push for re-entry dockets in Franklin County, diversity on the bench and more.

Subscribe to Columbus Can't Wait on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ for video.

Hosted by Tareya. Recorded and shot at Statehouse Studio. Executive Producers: Tareya Palmer and Taijuan Nichole Moorman.