United SHE Stands

In episode 179, we talk with Kim McCarthy about building power from the inside, including her campaign for the 70th Ohio House district, the Ohio Progressive Caucus, and what progressive politics actually looks like in Ohio.
Kim became politically engaged through the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011, later advocating on issues like corporate accountability and GMO labeling before turning her focus to local politics after the 2016 election. Using her accounting background, she challenged ineffective representation in Greene County, running strong grassroots campaigns in 2018 and 2020 that significantly shifted vote margins and broke fundraising records. She was elected Chair of the Greene County Democratic Party in 2022, where she works to rebuild the party around progressive values. An immigrant from Australia and a mother of three, Kim supports universal healthcare, a living wage, paid leave, environmental stewardship, and removing billionaire influence from politics.
Resources:
* Kim’s Campaign Website
* Ohio Progressive Democrats
* Join the Ohio Democratic Party Progressive Caucus!
We’re bringing together digital creators from across the state to build a powerful digital organizing network called Ohio Creators for Progress. Support and donate to this effort below! ⬇️
Connect with United SHE Stands:
* Substack
* Instagram
* TikTok
* YouTube
* Threads
* Buy us a coffee ☕️
This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:
* Website
* Instagram


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unitedshestands.com/subscribe

Surprise! Bonus episode! In episode 178, we're joined by Traci Thomas of The Stacks podcast to debrief Caro Claire Burke's debut novel Yesteryear - yes, the book you’ve been seeing all over social media.
Traci is the creator and host of the critically acclaimed literary podcast, The Stacks. She is a passionate champion of books and a deeply curious interviewer. Traci is a monthly contributor on NPR’s Here & Now, a columnist for shereads.com, the creator of the LAist live literary series, One for the Books. She also hosts and moderates literary events, book festivals, and author talks nationwide. Traci’s Substack, Unstacked, is a place where she dives deeper into books, and also discusses topics outside the literary world like pop culture, sports, politics, and more.
Away from The Stacks, Traci is a lover of hot takes, a watcher of sports, and a true snack enthusiast. Originally from Oakland, CA, she now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Mr. Stacks, and her twin boys, the Mini Stacks.
Resources
* The Stacks Podcast
* Patreon
* Instagram
* Unstacked - Substack
We’re bringing together digital creators from across the state to build a powerful digital organizing network called Ohio Creators for Progress. Support and donate to this effort below! ⬇️
Connect with United SHE Stands:
* Substack
* Instagram
* TikTok
* YouTube
* Threads
* Buy us a coffee ☕️
This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:
* Website
* Instagram


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unitedshestands.com/subscribe

In episode 177, we sit down with Liz Schmidt, the Executive Committee Co-Chair of Ohio Equal Rights, to talk about the campaign to amend Ohio's constitution and make it the strongest equal rights framework in the nation.
Ohio's constitution offers no equal rights protections for residents. There are no protections from government discrimination based on race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or other attributes. Marriage equality rests only on federal guarantees that could be reversed. Ohio Equal Rights is pursuing two citizen-led ballot amendments to change that, the Ohio Equal Rights Amendment and The Ohio Right to Marry Amendment, potentially making Ohio home to the most comprehensive state equal rights framework in the nation.
Resources:
* Ohio Equal Rights
* Fill out the form to volunteer!
* Find out where to sign the petitions!
* Social Media:
* Instagram
* Facebook
* TikTok
* Substack
We’re bringing together digital creators from across the state to build a powerful digital organizing network called Ohio Creators for Progress. Support and donate to this effort below! ⬇️
Connect with United SHE Stands:
* Substack
* Instagram
* TikTok
* YouTube
* Threads
* Buy us a coffee ☕️
This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:
* Website
* Instagram


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unitedshestands.com/subscribe

In episode 176, we are finally talking about DATA CENTERS. Ohio is in the middle of a data center boom. Google, Amazon, Meta, and dozens of other tech giants are building massive facilities across the state — particularly in Central Ohio — drawn by cheap land, fiber infrastructure, and generous tax breaks from our Statehouse. While these companies are selling the story of jobs and economic growth, a report from Innovation Ohio raises serious questions about who is really footing the bill. The answer unfortunately, is all of us.
Joining us today is Michael McGovern, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio, the organization behind that report. Innovation Ohio is Ohio’s Progressive politics and policy hub. It’s an organization that bridges advocacy, activism, and policymaking in Ohio. By building coalitions, conducting research, and coordinating messaging campaigns, they tackle critical issues at the local, state, and federal levels. Their work focuses on improving the lives of Ohio workers and families, creating opportunities for all Ohioans, and strengthening communities from the ground up.
And today with Michael, we’re going to dig into what’s actually happening to Ohio’s electric grid, why the average Ohio family could be looking at roughly $70 more on their monthly power bill by 2028, and what state lawmakers are (and aren’t) doing about it. This is a conversation every Ohioan needs to hear.
Resources:
* Innovation Ohio
* Report - Data Centers, Ohio’s Electric Grid, and Your Power Bill
* Report - The Power Plant Next Door: How a Little-Known Ohio Law Is Silencing Local Communities
* Ohio House Bill 706
* Ohio House Bill 695
We’re bringing together digital creators from across the state to build a powerful digital organizing network called Ohio Creators for Progress. Support and donate to this effort below! ⬇️
Connect with United SHE Stands:
* Substack
* Instagram
* TikTok
* YouTube
* Threads
* Buy us a coffee ☕️
This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:
* Website
* Instagram


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unitedshestands.com/subscribe

In episode 175, we break down the Ohio Primary on May 5th, walking you through statewide races, the Senate special election, Ohio Supreme Court races, congressional districts across the state, and more.
Resources:
* Our Ohio Primary Voter Guide (via Sway)
* Ohio - Find out what’s on your ballot!
* Find Your District
* Columbus Safety Collective - Issue 5 (VOTE YES)
* Voting in Primaries: What Are They?
* 2026 Midterm Election FAQ (League of Women Voters of Ohio)
* Democratic Party primaries in Ohio, 2026
* Ohio state executive official elections, 2026
* Michael Eisner in the Democratic primary for Ohio’s 7th Congressional District: endorsement editorial
* United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio, 2026
* United States Senate special election in Ohio, 2026
* Ohio Supreme Court elections, 2026
We’re bringing together digital creators from across the state to build a powerful digital organizing network called Ohio Creators for Progress. Support and donate to this effort below! ⬇️
Connect with United SHE Stands:
* Substack
* Instagram
* TikTok
* YouTube
* Threads
* Buy us a coffee ☕️
This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:
* Website
* Instagram


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unitedshestands.com/subscribe