Leading Liberty

Liberty in danger is no laughing matter. Or is it?

We Are Libertarians is "treating modern politics with all the irreverence it deserves," and it's earned them one of the largest followings in the freedom movement.

And what's really remarkable about their rapidly growing podcast and Facebook page is that the marketing behind them is almost entirely organic (a.k.a. free).

So here's what you'll learn in this episode of Leading Liberty:

• How to successfully integrate comedy and current events

• The pros and cons of growing your audience with a Facebook merger

• How to become a better speaker if you hate the sound of your own voice

• The root cause of LP infighting (and how to help the movement move beyond it)

• How to use Facebook groups and Snapchat to have more fun and build more intimate relationships with your followers

• And lots more!

So on that note, let's dive into the interview!

Resources in this episode:

Listen to the top episodes of the We Are Libertarians podcast on the human cost of government regulations

Jenn Gray on Marketing Libertarianism on the We Are Libertarians podcast

Follow We Are Libertarians on Facebook

Questions, comments, special requests?

Tell us what's on your mind in the Leading Liberty Facebook group!

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Libertarian ideas don't sell themselves. Just like any product, liberty needs great marketing and positive messengers, and that's what this episode is all about.

Alex Merced is the founder of the Libertarian Positivity Caucus, the creator of Libertarian Wing Media and the Libertarianism 101 online course, the host of several podcasts, and a candidate for comptroller in New York.

He's also run for public advocate and U.S. Senate, and with that experience comes a really refreshing perspective on how much of a difference we can make in our own communities and personal circles of influence.

So here's what you'll learn in this episode of Leading Liberty:

• Why media is so biased against libertarians (and what we can do about it)

• The biggest branding mistakes libertarians make (and how to fix them)

• What we need to do FIRST, before we start talking about policy

• The role of a caucus within a party

• What a comptroller is and why it's a perfect window of opportunity for Libertarians

• How to get people to aspire to your ideas with arguing

• And lots more!

So on that note, let's dive into the interview!

Resources in this episode:

Episode 8: Reshaping the Debate (Literally) with Larry Sharpe, Libertarian

Join the Libertarian Positivity Caucus

Learn more about Alex's resources for Libertarian activists at AlexMerced.com

Follow Alex Merced on Facebook

P.S. Did you like this episode?

Help other freedom fighters find the show by leaving Leading Liberty a quick review!

Keep Leading Liberty ad-free by pledging $1 per episode on Patreon

Even when we lose the battle, we can still win the war. And no one knows that better than the "merry band of libertarian litigators" at the Institute for Justice.

If you've ever heard the word "Kelo," you've experienced the power of public relations, but what you might not know is the strategy and philosophy of the man behind it.

As Vice President of Communications at IJ, John Kramer has directed the media relations for 6 landmark Supreme Court cases (among many others), 5 of which they won in court, and the other of which they absolutely won in the court of public opinion.

He brings an unparalleled depth of experience to the pro-liberty PR table, and I'm thrilled to share his 25 years of communication expertise with the Leading Liberty tribe.

So here's what you'll learn from "freedom's PR man" in this awesome episode:

• How to write compelling headlines, op-eds, and press releases that earn the trust of the public and the press

• The "PhD" philosophy of public relations (and how you can apply it to your own cause)

• A literal and figurative example of effective "billboard marketing"

• The top 2 rookie mistakes to avoid when communicating with the media

• An inspiring secret weapon to get your creative juices flowing when it's time to create new content

• What leadership advice a 25-year veteran of the freedom movement would give to young organizations

• And so much more!

So on that note, let's dive into the interview!

Resources in this episode:

Want to see some examples of awesome storytelling content?

Visit IJ's website to learn more about their litigation for liberty.

Follow IJ on Facebook

Follow IJ on YouTube

Check out Kramer's new novel, Blythe, on Amazon

And for more after the show, check out the free marketing resources for the freedom movement on JennGray.com.

P.S. Did you like this episode?

Help other freedom fighters find the show by leaving Leading Liberty a quick review!

The Libertarian Party may have its challenges, but it's the ONLY party in the United States that's actually growing.

And that's thanks in large part to Nicholas Sarwark, the chairman of the Libertarian National Committee.

He's a warrior for ballot access, debate inclusion, and candidate recruitment, and after almost 20 years of experience, his vision and perspective on the future of the Libertarian movement are absolutely inspiring (in my humble opinion).

So here's what you'll learn in this episode of Leading Liberty:

• How our personal outlook affects our political effectiveness

• What our 2016 battles for ballot access mean for 2018 and 2020

• Which challenges we need to overcome for more independent voters to take us seriously

• Whether he supports Arvin Vohra's comments about the military

• Whom he'd endorse for president in 2020

• What the "platinum rule" is and why it matters

• And lots more!

So on that note, let's dive into the interview!

Resources in this episode:

Follow Nicholas Sarwark on Facebook

Got questions?

Connect with Jenn in the Leading Liberty Mastermind

P.S. Did you like this episode?

Help other freedom fighters find the show by leaving Leading Liberty a quick review!

How much of a difference can you really make with a family and a full-time job?

Even if you don't work at a think tank or have time to run for office, that doesn't mean you can't make a valuable contribution to the cause.

What the freedom movement needs most right now is more "salesmen," i.e. better communicators who can start compelling conversations about liberty.

And that's exactly what the volunteer squad over at Ask A Libertarian is all about.

Today's guest is an editor and contributing author on their rapidly growing Facebook page dedicated to helping people understand the principles of liberty, and the more activists who can adopt Jared's communication mindset, the brighter the future of freedom will be.

So here's what you'll learn in this episode of Leading Liberty:

• A 4-word sentence starter to help open the mind of the someone who disagrees with you

• A powerful mindset shift to make your political conversations more constructive

• The 2 most common questions people Ask a Libertarian (I think you'll be surprised!)

• The most impactful thing you can do to help shift public opinion in the long run

• And how haters actually help you

So on that note, let's dive into the interview!

Resources in this episode:

The Ask A Libertarian Facebook Page

Jenn on Marketing Libertarianism on the We Are Libertarians Podcast

Got questions?

Connect with Jenn in the Leading Liberty Mastermind

P.S. Did you like this episode?

Help other freedom fighters find the show by leaving Leading Liberty a quick review!

Did you know that donors age 40-59 give online more than any other age group, and that 26 percent do so as a result of a request from another individual on social media?

Meanwhile, millennial and Latino voters say they're more than twice as likely to vote for someone after watching a video, and it only costs about a penny apiece to show them one.

Sooo… who wants to knock some digital doors with me?!

I've used Facebook video ads to kickstart small businesses, raise money for grassroots outreach, and help elect a pro-liberty rockstar to my city council without a single piece of direct mail, to the tune of Campaigns & Elections Reed Award finalist for Best Use of Video on a Social Platform.

Which I say not to try to impress you, but to impress *upon* you that video ads are an AMAZING opportunity for the freedom movement to change hearts and minds — and cultivate some new prospects in the process.

And the most common question I get, from both political and non-profit pro-liberty causes is, "how much do I need to spend to get results?"

The short answer is "it depends."

The long answer is, here's what you'll learn in this episode of Leading Liberty:

• The 2 metrics most beginning marketers OVERSPEND on — and why they don't matter

• Why Facebook ads are a way better investment than TV, especially if you're on a limited budget

• 2 case studies to give you a ballpark feel for how much to spend on your own ad campaign

• How a $3 independent ad for Gary Johnson raised $300

• 4 things to keep in mind when creating your ad budget

• The next steps of your prospects' journey after they watch your video ad

• Other marketing expenses to factor in to your digital strategy

• How I can help you plan that strategy 1-on-1 for your own cause or campaign

And on that note, let's dive into the episode!

Resources in this episode:

Jim Epstein Episode

Mark Stewart episode

Article: Budgeting Your Campaign the Right Way

Institute for Justice Video: "Everything"

LeadPages (mobile responsive website templates with email capture)

Bluehost (website hosting)

ActiveCampaign (affordable email automation and segmentation)

Free Digital Prospecting Cheat Sheet: 5 Quick Wins to Increase the Return on Your Facebook Investment

Got questions?

Connect with Jenn in the Leading Liberty Mastermind

P.S. Did you like this episode?

Help other freedom fighters find the show by leaving Leading Liberty a quick review!

How did Reason come to be a practically household name within the freedom movement, and what can other pro-liberty non-profits learn from their success?

Online video is totally changing people's first impression of free market ideas, and Reason has attracted a massive following with their short-form documentaries and video editorials.

Today's guest, Jim Epstein, is a writer and producer for Reason TV, and he's been at it with video since before Facebook and YouTube were even a thing, so he knows a thing or two about how to change hearts and minds with video and how it's evolving as a medium.

So here's what you'll learn in this episode of Leading Liberty:

• How to integrate video content with your organization's written work

• Why Reason's #1 most popular video attracted twice as many viewers as #2

• 4 best practices to keep in mind to get as much mileage as possible out of your video

• What to consider when choosing your primary playground on social media

• The most important element in creating a compelling final product

• The first decision you need to make if you'd like to incorporate video into your own marketing strategy

• And lots more!

So on that note, let's dive into the interview!

Resources in this episode:

Reason TV

Jim's Author Page on Reason.com

Reason Magazine

Reason Media Awards

Institute for Justice Videos

Questions about incorporating video into your organization's marketing strategy?

Ask us in the Leading Liberty Mastermind!

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Leave Leading Liberty a quick review!

Will the LP ever break out of the minor party mindset?

If it's true that more Americans identify as independents than as Republicans or Democrats (it is), then what's it going to take for those voters to start taking a third party seriously?

It's a tough question, and no one has a better answer than Larry Sharpe.

Larry was the Libertarian Party's runner-up for Vice President of the United States in 2016, and he's still grinding away at helping Libertarians find more effective ways to communicate all our awesome ideas.

So here's what you'll learn in this episode of Leading Liberty:

• The biggest mistake Libertarians make when it comes to attracting new friends to the freedom movement

• How to have a constructive conversation with progressives about healthcare and Social Security

• How to respond to social conservatives who object to legalization, gay marriage, etc on Biblical grounds

• The ONE word Libertarians need to stop using

• A 7-year plan to put Libertarians in control of Congress (really)

• The 6 people every campaign needs to make it work

• The ONE question you can ask at your next meeting to help your local LP get its act together

• And lots more!

So on that note, let's dive into the interview. (It's such a good one!)

P.S. Did you like this episode?

Click here to be awesome and leave Leading Liberty a quick review!

Resources in this episode:

Larry Sharpe, Libertarian on Facebook

Larry Sharpe's Recommended Reading List

The Libertarian Leadership Academy

Threads of Liberty, The Look Sharpe Collection

P.S. What's your biggest frustration in political conversations?

Ask away in the Leading Liberty Mastermind!

Are we finally on the verge of a breakthrough when it comes to public opinion about prohibition?

It's an exciting time to be an activist for criminal justice reform, thanks especially to people like Lieutenant Diane Goldstein, Ret., whose decades of experience on the police force make her case for decriminalization a lot harder for law enforcement to ignore.

Diane is a rockstar speaker, board member, and investigative reporter with the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, whose mission is to unite and mobilize the voice of law enforcement in support of drug policy and criminal justice reform.

Which means there's a whole network of "good cops" out there we can tap into to back up our own advocacy efforts.

So here's what you'll learn in this episode of Leading Liberty:

• What inspired a former narcotics officer to dedicate the rest of her career to criminal justice reform

• The two-word distinction making a 180-degree difference in how even our unlikely allies respond to the idea of letting adults make their own decisions

• A shocking new statistic about the unintended consequences of the drug war that's impossible for even the most conservative elected officials to ignore

• The first phone call to make to start a conversation about criminal justice reform in your own community

• And lots more!

So on that note, let's dive into the interview!

Resources in this episode:

Episode 006: Finding a Gateway Issue to Agree On

Article: We Need to End This Form of Robbery (Diane's investigation on civil asset forfeiture + CHART of declining violent crime clearance rates)

Article: A Fudge on Facts (Thorough rebuttal to misleading claims about cannabis-related crime in Colorado)

Incarcerating US (Documentary)

Want to start chipping away at the drug war in your own city?

If you've got questions, click here for answers in the Leading Liberty Mastermind.

P.S. Did you like this episode?

Help other freedom fighters find the show by leaving Leading Liberty a quick review!

Can we please stop demonizing "the Left"? I know that might be an unpopular stance to take, but the reality is that there are quite a few important issues we agree on, and our friends are a lot more open to our ideas than our enemies.

If we want to influence another human being's perspective, the first step is to understand who we're talking to and the problems *they* perceive so we can position our people and principles as the solution.

And let's face it; there's probably a lot we can learn from progressives about persuasion along the way.

Despite identifying as a Democrat, and despite the devastating effects of addiction in her own family, Melissa Sue Tucker's life work is totally aligned with the belief that government isn't the answer to drug problems, and in this episode, she gives us a behind-the-scenes look at why people who agree with us don't always vote with us:

• The ONE thing that influences their perception of a public figure more than the media (spoiler alert: it's YOU)

• The 8.5 out of 10 gateway issues we agree on >> What they're afraid will happen if agencies they don't even like are defunded

• What drug addicts and political zealots have in common

• How to have your voice heard at the State Capitol (literally)

• The activating power of a changed mind

• And lots more!

So on that note, let's dive into the interview!

Resources in this episode:

More about Melissa

60 Seconds of Solitude Podcast

The Addiction Support Podcast

Study: This Is Your Brain On God

Screencast: How to Use the Request to Speak Feature on the AZ Legislature's Website (Leading Liberty Mastermind Exclusive!)

Is apolitical activism part of how you're spreading the message of liberty?

Tell us about it in the Leading Liberty Mastermind!

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