In this episode, Martín sits down with Bill Smith, founder and CEO of Inseparable, a bipartisan national mental health advocacy organization working to change how Washington and state houses respond to the mental health crisis. Bill shares his story behind founding Inseparable, why mental health is a winning political issue, and how his team has delivered 100 policy wins in just five years. He and Martín dig into the role of personal storytelling in advocacy, how to recruit and protect storytellers, and what it takes to turn hesitant policymakers into real champions. Bill also opens up about how he protects his own mental health while leading a movement focused on everyone else's.

Guest Info: 

Bill Smith, founder and CEO of Inseparable. 

Connect with Inseparable on Instagram and learn more at inseparable.us.

Check out Bill's recommendations:

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This week, Joe is joined by Katie Belanger, consultant for the Local Solutions Support Center, for her third appearance on the show. Katie breaks down what state preemption is, why it matters, and how it's being weaponized by corporate special interests and social conservatives to override local democracy. From heat safety standards for outdoor workers to sanctuary city policies to local zoning decisions, preemption is shaping daily life in ways most people never see. With LSSC currently tracking over 850 preemption bills this legislative session, Katie shares what's at stake.

Guest Info:

Katie Belanger, consultant for the Local Solutions Support Center (LSSC)

Resources:

Check out Katie's recommendations:

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In this bonus 7 Questions episode, Joe Fuld talks with Monica Hopkins, Executive Director of the ACLU of the District of Columbia, about what it takes to defend democracy at the local level. They cover DC statehood and voting rights, how the ACLU of DC's advocacy approach delivers wins, and how a shifting political landscape has reshaped their strategy. Monica also shares candid thoughts on keeping a team motivated and protecting joy when the work feels heavy.

Guest Info:

Monica Hopkins, Executive Director of the ACLU of the District of Columbia. Learn more about the ACLU of DC.

Resources

ACLU-DC Resource Hub
DC Statehood Now

ACLU-DC now has a podcast! Browse through episodes of A More Perfect District here.

Check out Monica's Recommendations

Podcast: Wildcard with Rachel Martin

Book: Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

TV: Twisted Yoga (Apple TV)

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This week, we're featuring a recorded webinar from our Advocacy Training series. Joe dives into goal setting—why defining clear goals as a team is one of the most critical and most often skipped steps in building a successful advocacy campaign. He walks through prioritizing primary versus secondary goals, layering short-term and long-term objectives, and building in evaluation metrics from the start rather than the finish. Joe covers the practical scaffolding that holds it all together: doing your research, planning around the legislative calendar, having honest budget conversations, using MOUs with coalition partners, and keeping goals SMARTIE—strategic, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound, inclusive, and equitable.

If you're interested in learning more about TCW's Advocacy Training, check out our website, TCW Advocacy.

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In this Seven Questions episode, Martín Diego Garcia sits down with Denise Feriozzi, co-founder and executive director of Pipeline Fund, to talk about building the long-term, down-ballot infrastructure progressives have needed for years. She breaks down the gaps Pipeline Fund set out to fill and digs into the realities of this work today, from rising safety and security concerns to the case for contesting races everywhere, not just in swing states. 

Guest Info:

Denise Feriozzi, Co-founder and Executive Director, Pipeline Fund.

Sign up for The Baseline, Pipeline Fund's monthly newsletter, here.

Check out Denise's recommendations:

TV: Below Deck (Peacock/Bravo)

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In this episode, Joe sits down with Cesar Toledo, Executive Director of the Wanda Alston Foundation, to talk about what it really looks like to make local impact. Cesar shares his journey from national politics — including the Harris-Walz campaign and the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund — to leading a small but mighty DC nonprofit serving homeless LGBTQ+ youth, where nearly 40% of DC's homeless youth identify as queer. He and Joe dig into how Cesar is scaling impact with limited staff, why campaign skills translate directly to nonprofit leadership, and how he refuses to let the opposition steal his joy. 

Guest Info:

Cesar Toledo, Executive Director, Wanda Alston Foundation

Connect with Cesar on Instagram (@chico_ces)

Resources:

Check out Cesar's recommendations:

TV: Invincible (Amazon Prime)

Movies: George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead and the Resident Evil film franchise.

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What does it actually mean for a bank to be "socially responsible," and why should every nonprofit, campaign, and advocacy organization care? In this episode, Martín sits down with Maura Keaney, Vice President and Director of Client Engagement at Amalgamated Bank, to unpack what ethical banking looks like in practice. Maura shares how a bank can be a real partner in the progressive movement. She also gets into the practical stuff: ACH payments, fraud prevention, payment strategy, and the questions every executive director or CFO should be asking their banking partner.

Guest Info:

Maura Keaney, Vice President and Director of Client Engagement at Amalgamated Bank, America's socially responsible bank. 

Connect with Maura on LinkedIn.

Check out Maura's recommendations:

Books: Tana French and Emily St. John Mandel both have new books hitting the shelves!

TV: Slow Horses and Ted Lasso (both on Apple TV+)

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In this special 7 Questions episode, Joe sits down with Kristen Grimm, Founder and Strategist at Spitfire Strategies, for a candid conversation about what it takes to win a campaign right now. Kristen unpacks common strategic-planning mistakes: vague milestones, the "build the plane while we're flying it" approach, and the obsession with one giant "big tent" coalition. She and Joe also dig into why so many strategic plans sit on a shelf, what AI is changing about the speed of campaigns, and why the most important question in your planning meeting may be what you're for, not just what you're against.

Guest Info:

Kristen Grimm, Founder and Strategist at Spitfire Strategies. 

Connect with Kristen on LinkedIn.

Resources: 

Check out Kristen's recommendations:

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In this bonus episode of How to Win a Campaign, host Martín Diego Garcia shares a webinar recorded in September 2025 featuring two innovative leadership development programs working to solve one of campaigns' most persistent problems: what happens to great talent between election cycles. Martín sits down with Theo LeCompte of Loft Leaders and Lorenza Ramirez of Blue Line Fellows for a deep dive into how both programs are investing in the next generation of political and advocacy leaders. Whether you're a campaign staffer navigating the off-year gap, an organization looking to hire mission-driven talent, or someone curious about how progressive campaigns are developing their bench, this conversation is packed with practical insight. Both guests share how their programs work, what they look for in fellows, and how employers and mentors can get involved.

Guest Info:

Lorenza Ramirez, Founder, Blue Line Fellows. Blue Line bridges the gap between election cycles by placing top campaign talent into meaningful roles, while building their networks and skills ahead of future cycles and beyond. Learn more at bluelinefellows.com.

Theo LeCompte, Executive Director, Loft Leaders. Loft is a fully paid, year-long fellowship that provides up-and-coming leaders in campaigns and public service with access to a graduate business education. Loft gives fellows the opportunity to deepen their network and build a stronger foundation for future opportunities. Learn more at loftleaders.org.

Resources:

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Joe and Martín are back to give listeners a sneak peek at what's coming in Season 5's bonus episodes. From ethical banking and mental health policy to DC voting rights and the future of advocacy, this season's lineup is packed with timely, practical conversations from some of the sharpest minds in politics and advocacy. We're also sharing a few webinar recordings — including an exclusive goal-setting training from our TCW Advocacy series. This bonus season is a must-listen, whether you're a seasoned campaigner or just getting started.