In our final 7 Questions episode of the season, Joe sits down with Alex Dickinson of Beekeeper Group to discuss their report, The Future of Advocacy. Drawing on a December 2025 survey of 1,000 voters and insights from Beekeeper's 100+ client partners, Alex shares why the traditional "ladder of engagement" may be giving way to a more fluid model, how local action is outpacing national, and why reducing friction matters more than ever. She also unpacks surprising findings on SMS engagement across generations and what the rising use of AI tools means for the future of advocacy work. A fitting close to the season, and a reading for anyone shaping campaigns in 2026.

Guest Information: 

Alex Dickinson, Managing Partner at Beekeeper Group. 

Connect with Alex on LinkedIn. 

Resources: 

The Future of Advocacy Report

Recommendations:

Books: London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe and Fame Sick by Lena Dunham

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In this episode, Enrique Rivas of The Campaign Workshop sits down with Mayte Aldrett, Partner Success Director at Empower Project, to break down relational organizing—the practice of reaching people through their own trusted relationships. Mayte explains why a message from a friend, family member, or neighbor lands when a stranger's outreach gets screened out, and how organizations of any size can put the approach to work. 

Mayte and Enrique dig into the real costs and commitment involved, the common roadblocks that make programs stall, and how relational organizing fits alongside canvassing, digital ads, and direct mail rather than replacing them. She also walks through Empower Project's free app for nonprofits and labor unions, and the surprising ways groups are using relational for everything from mutual aid to rapid response. 

Guest Info: 

Enrique Rivas, Account Manager at The Campaign Workshop

Mayte Aldrett, Partner Success Director at Empower Project

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In this 7 Questions episode, Joe sits down with Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United, to discuss the state of money in politics in America. Tiffany breaks down how the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision opened the floodgates to unlimited and undisclosed spending in our elections and explains how dark money flows through the system. They also dig into why transparency and disclosure are critical tools for accountability. Tiffany also shares what everyday people can do to fight back, and why she believes people power is ultimately stronger than money power.

Guest Info:

Tiffany Muller, President, End Citizens United. You can also find End Citizens United on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Check out Tiffany's recommendations:

TV: 

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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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