Madam Policy

"Laugh loud, be kind, and organize." These are the words that policy advocate and organizer Danielle Melfi lives by. Having served as the Wisconsin State Director for Biden for President, the Director of Political Engagement for Tammy Baldwin for Senate, and as the Wisconsin Organizing Chief of Staff for Hillary for America, Danielle has a proven track record of fighting for and creating change. Now, as the Executive Director of Building Back Together (BBT), she's helping to make life-changing policies a reality by working to advance the Biden-Harris Administration's agenda and making sure the American people know what's happing in Washington. Danielle joined hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson to discuss her role at BBT and to give listeners an insider's view into the work behind one of the timeliest issues today: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to be nominated for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. With the chance to make history on the line—as the U.S. prepares for the confirmation hearings for Judge Jackson—Danielle's work with BBT is essential. This is an episode of Madam Policy that you don't want to miss!

Kara van Stralen—named one of the "top people to watch in tech" by The Hill—is definitely worth keeping an eye on! After serving for over ten years on Capitol Hill as a tech and telecommunications policy expert, Kara van Stralen hit the road, taking her experience and knowledge to the Centennial State in October 2021. Working as the Director of Policy and Research to Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Kara has skillfully maneuvered the transition from federal to state level politics. Kara has played a vital role in some of the most important technological issues of our time, including the implementation of FirstNet and working to bring high-speed broadband internet access to Coloradans. Along the way, she's mentored other women, sharing her institutional knowledge about successfully navigating complex political issues, building coalitions, and engaging stakeholders. Join us for a new episode of Madam Policy as hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson chat with Kara about how she has taken the tech policy world by storm and what she's doing to create pathways for other women. 

"Why do you love your job?" was a question asked of Alexa Cole early in her career at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Her response? Same as it is today:  because she gets to travel the world, working with amazing colleagues in other countries and developing best practices for marine stewardship and resource protection. Balancing the interests of the U.S. government, industry, NGOs, and fisheries and as the Director of the Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce, Alexa negotiates treaties, harmonizes laws, and sets U.S. marine policy. Not only is she doing the work that she loves, but also she's often fortunate enough to do it just steps away from some of the best beaches in the world!  So how does she do it? Alexa relies on her innate leadership skills and persuasive advocacy chops, and importantly, she values her team members and respects the individual knowledge that each person brings to the table. Learn how this globetrotter and sustainability champion manages to virtually engage other countries, even during the pandemic.  Join hosts Dee Martin and Christine Wyman as Alexa walks them through all the facets of her important job, and how she is shapes policy everyday—policies that reach around the world.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains a discussion of sexual assault and abuse, grooming, and sex trafficking. Listener discretion advised.

“I walked myself to a predator’s home.” These are the haunting words of Teresa Helm describing her encounter with Ghislaine Maxwell, whom she describes as a groomer for sexual abuse by Jeffery Epstein. Turning her pain into action, Teresa is now an advocate and mentor to grooming and sexual violence survivors. In this episode of Madam Policy, hear Teresa’s heartfelt and important advice to both parents and children on how to identify and prevent grooming situations. Dedicated to enacting legislation that would prevent and hold perpetrators of trafficking and sexual violence accountable, Teresa’s bravery and commitment shines through. Join hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson as they hear from Teresa, a fearless woman who walks the path to recovery with numerous other survivors.

Reecie Colbert founded BlackWomenViews Media in 2018 as a space that centers on multi-faceted Black women who refuse to be boxed in. Her bold, intelligent, and unfiltered views are featured weekly on the Roland Martin Unfiltered Show and the Clay Cane Show.  Frequent news contributor in the media and on podcasts and Twitter, Reecie is a highly-sought after and recognized voice on politics and culture. Combining her passion for speaking the truth and her love for Vice President Kamala Harris, Reecie often uses her voice, knowledge, and research skills to create multimedia content to debunk false claims made against the Vice President. Known by some as the “Kamala Encyclopedia,” Reecie has more than 100,000 followers across social media platforms and over 180,000 views on YouTube. Join hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson for a conversation with Reecie about building her remarkable brand and the importance of doing so with unapologetic authenticity. Reecie’s take on embracing her multi-faceted life is one you don’t want to miss!

Whether it's the public health protocols of the ongoing pandemic, questions about gender equity, or outcry on racial and social justice issues, it is evident that what happens in sports arenas extends well beyond the scoreboard.  And these stories need to be told. Cue Candace Bucker, a journalist who has reported on sports for twenty years and recently took on a new role as a sports columnist for The Washington Post. Candace's writing challenges the boundaries of athletics by diving into areas where sports and culture collide. Join hosts Dee Martin, Caitlin Sickles and Tarena Lofton for a conversation with Candace about how sports shape society, her transition from reporter to columnist, and what she is doing to ensure that more female Black journalists are successful in sports journalism. Don't miss this important conversation!

Pennsylvania House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton created history twice: as the first African American woman to be elected as the House Democratic Caucus Chair and as the first woman to be the House Democratic Leader. As Leader, she has the last word for each piece of legislation in the Pennsylvania House and has the responsibility of amplifying the voices of her caucus. What's at the top of her agenda? Securing voting rights for all Pennsylvanians. Tune in to hear more about Leader McClinton's important journey from the courtroom to public service. Join hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson as they chat with Leader McClinton about her path to leadership and how she's using her platform to ensure that more women feel empowered to get into public offices. Also, special guest Juan Dawson, a former intern at Policy Resolution Group who learned firsthand from Leader McClinton as one of her former students, stops in for the episode.

The ever-growing scope of the world wide web has aided society's ability to connect, while simultaneously creating a world of danger. Be it cyberbullying, sexual exploitation or internet stalking, our smartphones, laptops, and applications are creating a public safety crisis, especially for children. To combat this unsafe environment, Rania Mankarious, CEO of Crime Stoppers Houston, is committed to public safety, and teaching parents and children how to navigate the online world. Through her chart-topping new book, The Online World, What You Think You Know and What You Don't, Rania has created strategies and exercises for parents and kids. Her leadership of Crime Stoppers has allowed her to teach internet safety tactics to students implementing smart and safe online rules for younger generations. Join hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson as they dive into the world of cybersecurity with Rania. Follow along as they talk about safe posting strategies, preventing cyber-crime, and how to find reassurance while combatting fear.