Madam Policy

As Chief of Community and Government Relations at the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS), Danielle Leach shapes policy every day by working to find a cure for brain tumors and advocating for patients. Having worked in the patient advocacy field for over 20 years, Danielle has a track record of success in patient outreach and education, fundraising, advancing legislative and regulatory policies, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy for cancer research. In addition to her work for NBTS, Danielle is co-chair emeritus and current policy co-chair for the Alliance of Childhood Cancer, where she represents more than 25 national patient advocacy groups and professional medical organizations. To honor the memory of her son Mason, Danielle also co-founded the Mason Leach Superstar Fund to support childhood cancer patients and families. Danielle joined hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles to chat about coalition building for advocacy, how she keeps the fire for this important work burning, and how she manages to intertwine her personal and professional experiences in her fight for patients and their families. This is an episode that you won't want to miss! 

Sara Guillermo is a woman on a mission to help young women and girls own their political power.  As the CEO of IGNITE National, Sara recruits, trains and inspires the next generation of women policy makers and shapers in America. Through IGNITE, young women find the tools and resources they need to step up and make change in their communities.  In a conversation led by hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson, Sara discusses her meteoric rise to CEO of IGNITE and the role that Gen Z women can play in politics and important policy issues like student loan debt relief. Tune in to learn more about what Sara and IGNITE are doing to help motivate young women to become more civically and politically engaged. Also, Sara shares the story of her first time running for office. Hint: the story from her childhood election foreshadows what she does today. Don't miss this special episode of Madam Policy!

"Trust your gut. Work hard when you can. And do what you love." These are the words of Emmy-award winning journalist Jessica Schneider, who joined hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles on the latest episode of Madam Policy. As a justice correspondent for CNN, Jessica has mastered the art of incorporating the legal knowledge she gained while practicing law with her love for storytelling. Tune in as Jessica talks about how high school news program started her journey in journalism; why she is a self-proclaimed "adventurist"; and her work reporting on everything from the opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court to the work of the FBI.

Kema Ogden is an innovative business owner, entrepreneur, and philanthropist taking the cannabis and health industry by storm. With the vision to create a holistic approach to health care, Kema became Nevada's first Black female dispensary owner in 2014 when she co-founded Global Harmony LLC, the parent company of Top Notch The Health Center. What drives Kema? The opportunity to serve and create a culture of positivity for the community. Kema sat down with hosts Dee Martin, Yasmin Nelson, and Amber Dodds to discuss some of the most pressing issues currently facing the cannabis industry— including addressing gaps in legislation, advocating for expungement of arrests for certain types of cannabis offenses, and changing the narrative on cannabis. You won't want to miss this episode with the woman creating history and shaping policy in the cannabis and health industry!

Two Michiganders and a Senator walk into a hydrogen production facility…want to know how that story ends? Tune into Madam Policy to hear from Yooper Katie Ellet, Air Liquide's President of Hydrogen Energy and Mobility, to hear about her recent tour of the company's new hydrogen production facility in Nevada with U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm (former Michigan Governor) and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). You can also hear about Katie's path to President, combining over 25-years of experience in the chemical and oil and gas sectors with her background as a chemical engineer and keen business strategist. Katie joins hosts Dee Martin and Rebecca Brown to discuss her current work; her support of Air Liquide's STEM mentorship program, aka ALEX; and the importance of making complex issues, like hydrogen energy, relatable. Plus, hear what advice she would give to her 24-year-old self! This is an episode you won't want to miss!

Vice President of Public Affairs for Plug Power Erin Lane is creating history by helping the US reach its net-zero emissions goals by 2050. Plug Power is a leader of clean hydrogen and zero-emission fuel cell solutions that are both cost-effective and reliable, and Erin leads the company's work with the federal government to build a robust hydrogen ecosystem and economy. Thanks to this work, the US government is adopting policies to ensure that hydrogen energy is a reality today. Erin sat down with Madam Policy hosts Dee Martin and Rebecca Brown to chat about the impact that geopolitical events—like the war in Ukraine—and domestic policies—like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—have on the US energy supply. The trio also discussed the importance of coalition building and clear messaging about the sometimes complicated topic of hydrogen energy. Erin is a leader, mentor, and friend who is an expert political strategist, coalition builder, and genuinely nice person. Listen in to learn about the progress and future of hydrogen, how Erin's work continues to positively impact our environment, and Erin's mentorship of future leaders of the industry.

A note to listeners: This episode was recorded on March 9, 2022. News moves fast and some of the information in this episode might have changed by the time you hear this.

“We all win when environmental justice and equity prevail.” These are the words of Montina Cole, the first ever Senior Counsel for Environmental Justice and Equity at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Join Madam Policy to hear about Montina’s dedicated and long history as an advocate for transformational change in the environmental justice and equity spaces. Hosts Dee Martin and Rachael Marsh discuss Montina’s path to her current important and high-profile role, from law school student to private sector attorney to public sector trailblazer. Listeners will also hear details about Montina’s other passions, including supporting SisterMentors’ mentoring of the next generation of leaders and instructing Integral Yoga.

Dr. Nichole Wilson is a woman on a mission to help Hoosiers become healthier by addressing a variety of community issues including mental health, obesity, and smoking. With nearly 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector under her belt, Nichole recently transitioned into her new role as the Vice President of Community Health Operations at Indiana University Health. Turning her passion for her community into purpose, Nichole has become known as an active mentor, leader, and healthcare advocate. In fact, Tarena Lofton, the editor and producer of the Madam Policy Podcast, benefited from her mentorship as a high school student participating in the Debutante Cotillion hosted by the Indianapolis chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and later as a member of the sorority. Join hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson as they dive into how she is using her platform to uplift her community and build the next generation of leaders. Also, Tarena joins us as a host to share how Nichole's dedication to mentorship has played a role in her life.