Madam Policy: Recent Episodes
Bracewell
Madam Vice President? Madam Speaker? Now there’s Madam Policy, a podcast by and about women shaping policy and creating history. Hosted by Dee Martin—life-long organizer and advocate—with rotating co-hosts Yasmin Nelson, Caitlin Sickles and other subject matter experts in the Washington, DC-based Policy Resolution Group (Bracewell LLP), each episode features an interview with an extraordinary woman who is making change.
Listen for insight from Members of Congress, corporate leaders, journalists and activists who are every day, in every way, shaping our nation.
The show is lively, provocative, informative, and fun!
Editing and pod production by Tarena Lofton.
In this episode of Madam Policy, hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles sit down with Diane Foley, founder of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation. Following the murder of her son, American journalist James Foley, while reporting in Syria, Diane transformed personal tragedy into a national effort to improve support for families of hostages and wrongful detainees, strengthen journalist safety, and advance U.S. hostage policy. She discusses the evolution of the Foundation’s work, the importance of government engagement and public awareness, and the lessons she has learned about leadership, resilience, and moral courage in the face of unimaginable loss.
What do financial markets and motherhood have in common? More than you might think.
In this episode, Jamila Piracci, principal of Roos Innovations, joins host Dee Martin to explore the delicate act of translating financial markets to increase understanding between the public and private sectors. Jamila reflects on the ways motherhood, music, and entrepreneurship have shaped her leadership and decision-making over the years, guiding her journey from public service to building her own firm.
In this episode, host Dee Martin sits down with Amanda Van Dyke, Founder of the Critical Mineral Hub and author of The Mineral Imperative, to explore why critical minerals have become a defining issue for the global economy, national security, and industrial strategy. Amanda breaks down what qualifies as a critical mineral, why supply chains are increasingly vulnerable, and why understanding mineral systems is essential for policymakers.
Want to learn more about the hidden minerals powering modern life? Tune in now!
On this episode of Madam Policy, co-hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles sit down with Kris Thompson, CEO of Calvary Women’s Services, for a powerful conversation on what it truly takes to move women from crisis to independence. Together, they explore how permanent housing, job training, and holistic services are transforming lives—and why these solutions matter for policy, communities, and economic resilience. The discussion also highlights Calvary’s upcoming Hope Gala, a celebration of impact and possibility, where Dee Martin will be honored as this year’s Hope Award recipient.
Tax policy expert and former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs (Tax & Budget) at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Alice Lin joins Madam Policy host Dee Martin to discuss her journey from being a senior tax policy advisor in Congress to lead tax expert at Treasury. From helping develop the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) during her time on the House Ways and Means Committee to working on implementation as a senior tax policy advisor for the Senate Finance Committee to helping publish over 95 pieces of guidance on the IRA at Treasury, Alice shares her view on the future of the IRA and reconciliation. Want to hear how Alice’s experience shadowing a congressional district office in high school put her on the path of public service? Listen now!
Chief of Staff to Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Toni-Marie Higgins, returns to Madam Policy to discuss leadership and policy priorities in the new political climate of the Republican Trifecta. Hot topics include the reauthorization of the important Farm Bill as Chairman Boozman takes gavel of the Senate Agriculture Committee; the role of bipartisanship in the new Congress; and tackling policies related to crypto and digital currencies. Hosts and proud Arkansans Dee Martin and Shelby Kelley sit down with Toni-Marie to talk about her career journey to Chief of Staff and her advice to younger staffers looking to move up in their careers. Want to hear about Toni-Marie’s work co-leading and mentoring other female chiefs of staff in the Senate? Then tune in!
In this episode of Madam Policy, hosts Dee Martin and Ihna Mangundayao welcome Halie Craig, Technology Policy Director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and recent nominee to the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). Halie shares the journey from intern to influential policy leader that led to her current nomination, discussing the intersection of trade, technology, and the power of language skills in policymaking. She also opens up about her personal story as a survivor of sexual assault, her advocacy for survivors’ rights through the TAKE IT DOWN Act, and her belief in the importance of creating supportive environments for victims. Want to hear what advice technology and trade policy expert and advocate Halie Craig would give to her 50-year-old self? Then tune in!
As the FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) prepares for its annual G-Man Honors fundraising gala, Madam Policy welcomes Tresa Roth, a dedicated champion and advocate for 9/11 families. In this special episode, host Dee Martin is joined by guest host Jean O’Connor, Executive Director of the FBI Agents Association and retired FBI Special Agent, to talk with Tresa about navigating grief, preserving the legacy of 9/11 responders, and honoring her late husband, Supervisory Special Agent Bob Roth, one of the first agents to respond to the Pentagon on 9/11 along with co-host Jean O'Connor. Curious about Tresa’s experience in the national security arena? Interested in learning how the FBIAA Memorial College Fund has supported her family? Then be sure to tune in!
With election day one day away, Madam Policy welcomes Mandy Gunasekara, former EPA Chief of Staff during the Trump administration and author of Y’all Fired: A Southern Belle’s Guide to Restoring Federalism and Draining the Swamp. Listen in as hosts Dee Martin and Anna Karakitsos talk with Mandy about her new book detailing her experience as a political appointee during the Trump administration, her role in Project 2025, and her biggest professional achievements, including developing former President Trump’s strategy for exiting the Paris Climate Accords. Curious to hear more about Mandy’s new book and what she thinks a second Trump administration could look like? Then tune in!
Madam Policy welcomes Celina Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of the League of Women Voters (LWV), to talk about the importance of voting, making a plan to vote, and voting as early as possible! In celebration of Vote Early Day and election day in just seven days, hosts Dee Martin and Bracewell Partner Kate Day chat with Celina about the critical importance of voting rights, what the LWV is doing to ensure voter access, remove barriers to voters, and empowering first-time voters. Want to hear more about the legal strategies the LWV is implementing to ensure a fair and trustworthy election process? Then tune in! For more information on how to vote, visit vote411.org to make a plan for the 2024 election.
With the election just a week away, Madam Policy welcomes Hannah Fried, Executive Director of All Voting is Local, to discuss the critical issues surrounding voter access and the impact it has on our democracy. Hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles talk with Hannah to explore All Voting is Local’s mission to ensure equitable access to the ballot and how they are working in all states to combat barriers faced by underrepresented communities and to fight the wave of misinformation currently facing America’s elections. Want to hear about the work Hannah is doing to combat the “cost” of voting facing many Americans? Then tune in!
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Madam Policy welcomes Friday Jones, a renowned tattoo artist who specializes in helping empower breast cancer survivors by transforming their mastectomy scars into illustrative tattoos. Friday joins hosts Dee Martin and Joshua Zive to discuss the emotional and psychological impact of her work on clients and the importance of creating a supportive environment for women and non-binary individuals in the tattoo culture. Want to hear more about Friday Jones’ perspective on the intersection of tattoo artistry and the medical reconstructive process? Want to hear about Friday’s experience in legalizing tattooing in Montenegro and tattooing Angelina Jolie? Then listen now!
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Madam Policy welcomes Running Start alumnae Nykarlis Santos Núñez and Jessica Vallejo, political powerhouses and experts in legislative affairs and policy. Hosts Dee Martin and Kendall Mitchell sit down with Nykarlis and Jessica to highlight the vital contributions of Latina leaders in shaping policy, what it was like to go through Madam Policy alum Susannah Wellford’s Running Start program which trains young women to join the political space, and the amazing work that Nykarlis and Jessica have done since the program. Spoiler alert, Nykarlis Santos Núñez is currently serving as a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. Agency of International Development and Jessica Vallejo is in her second year at the University of Pennsylvania’s world-renowned Wharton Business School! Want to hear about Jessica’s emotional experience being in Congress during the passing of the Dreams and Promise Act? Want to know about Nykarlis’ journey from immigrant to Foreign Service Officer? Then tune in!
Political powerhouse and Legislative Counsel for Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), Donni Turner, joins the Madam Policy Podcast to talk about her extensive experience in legislative advocacy, the importance of representation and mentorship in politics, and the impact of education policies in the United States. Hosts Dee Martin and Ihna Mangundayao sit down with Donni to discuss her work shaping the College for All Act, the Cancel Student Loan Debt proposal, the Universal School Meals Deal, and the establishment of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Donni also shares valuable advice on negotiation and networking, emphasizing the need for women to advocate for themselves in the workplace. Curious about student loan policies, negotiating in the workplace, or advocating for diverse representation in Congress? Then tune in to learn more!
Madam Policy welcomes champion and advocate for mental health services and LGBTQ+ rights as well as a fighter for all things Vermont, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-VT). Rep. Balint joins Madam Policy hosts Dee Martin and Ihna Mangundayao to discuss her key policy priorities for Vermont including housing, healthcare, and climate issues. Tune in as former middle school teacher, Rep. Balint, gives her take on whether teaching members of congress or teaching middle schoolers is more challenging. Tune in to hear more about the Congresswoman’s journey and the importance of being the first openly gay person to represent Vermont in Congress. Want to know how Rep. Balint cultivates bipartisan support for some of the most critical issues facing our nation? Then listen now!
Madam Policy host, Dee Martin, welcomes the latest batch of Policy Resolution Group (PRG) interns for the Summer 2024 semester, Jenna Bolonik, Margaret Hecht, Cooper Henson, Jenny Hu, Margaret Hutt, Joelle Rosenthal, and Kyleigh Voity. Dee and the interns discuss the importance of taking advantage of every opportunity available during the internship, constantly seeking out opportunities to learn, and more! The interns also talk about their favorite moments from the in-person D.C. internship including a U.S. Supreme Court Tour and a U.S. Capitol Tour, newsroom tours including NPR and Fox News, and more! Want to hear about the interns’ favorite pieces of advice they received over the semester? Want to know what advice this next generation of policy makers would give to their 50-year-old selves? Then tune in!
In this special episode of Madam Policy, listen in as host Dee Martin speaks at the Feminist Equalitea, an event hosted as part of the Democratic National Convention (the DNC) by the Feminist Majority and the ERA Coalition. Dee and the other advocates and leaders at the Equalitea called on Congress to take the procedural steps needed to adopt the Equal Rights Amendment and enshrine equal protection under the law. Listen 🎧
In this episode of Madam Policy, entrepreneur and fashion industry veteran Wendy Rabin, Founder of Wrabyn Boutique (wrabyn.com), joins hosts Dee Martin and Joelle Rosenthal to explore fashion’s role in emboldening women and driving change. Wendy shares her insights on the evolution of the fashion industry, exploring topics such as the impact of clothing on confidence and personal branding through the lens of enclothed cognition. The conversation tackles several pressing issues in the industry including sustainability, the impact of sexism in design, and how women can claim a seat at every table through confident self-presentation. Need help building a timeless wardrobe or still confused about business casual? Want to know about the importance of buying better and wearing forever? Then tune in!
Leader in the “Food is Medicine” movement and nutrition advocacy space, Jean Terranova, Senior Director of Policy and Research at Community Servings, joins Madam Policy to talk about the future of nutrition and food security policy in the United States. Host Dee Martin and Jenna Bolonik sit down with Jean to discuss her work on the bipartisan Medically Tailored Meals (MTM) Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Act, the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, and an amendment of Medicare and Medicaid to include coverage for MTMs. Want to understand more about how Community Servings caters their services to people experiencing a wide range of health challenges and food preferences? Curious about the progress, challenges, and benefits of expanding access to MTMs? Wondering how to get involved in volunteering and advocacy for food security? Tune in to learn about these issues and more!
Expert in crisis communications and brand building, Anne Marie Malecha, CEO of Dezenhall Resources, sits down with Madam Policy hosts Dee Martin and Rebecca Brown to discuss how operations should drive high-stakes communications, the role of communications in politics and policy, and when and how a company should weigh in on hot button issues. Armed with a policy background and extensive experience advising clients on how to build strong brands, Anne Marie lays out critical questions companies should ask themselves before speaking about issues that affect their key audiences. Curious about the legal consequences of crisis communications? Wondering how a communications professional would objectively analyze Trump and Biden’s performances in the recent presidential debate? Give this episode a listen!
The Honorable Thea Lee, Deputy Undersecretary for International Labor Affairs (ILAB) at the U.S. Department of Labor, joins Madam Policy hosts Dee Martin and Ihna Mangundayao to talk about her important work influencing policy through economics and promoting workers’ rights globally. As a leader at the forefront of both domestic and foreign policy, Deputy Undersecretary Lee explains how economics and economic research inform her work in policy, from the seafood industry to child labor prevention, and the importance of putting workers’ rights front and center when creating workplace evaluation protocols. Want to hear the story of how Thea debated a Nobel Laureate during the NAFTA negotiations? Strategies to end forced labor and social auditing under authoritarian regimes? Then tune in!
Globally recognized environmental justice champion Jeanette Pablo, founder and CEO of the Climate Equity Foundation and previous director of the Climate Equity Initiative at the Clean Air Task Force (CATF), joins Madam Policy to discuss the intersection of environmental justice and climate change. Hosts Dee Martin and Ihna Mangundayao sit down with Jeanette to talk about her work negotiating high-stakes international energy frameworks, the importance of AANHPI voices in environmental justice, and global approaches to shaping inclusive policies. Curious about the role of optics vs. substance in treaty negotiations or the staggering language barrier in social services and climate justice? Tune in to learn about these issues and more!
Madam Policy welcomes world-renowned musher and literal trailblazer, DeeDee Jonrowe, to discuss her journey within the dogsledding world, leading to 32 Iditarod starts, 29 finishes, three second-place finishes, and a record setting run in 1998 of fastest time by a female. DeeDee joins hosts Dee Martin and Anna Karakitsos to discuss her incredible journey, including completing one of her Iditarod runs three weeks after finishing chemotherapy, her work with search-and-rescue dogs, and her role as a leader on animal humanitarianism. Want to learn more about animal search-and-rescue training? The importance of perseverance in the face of hardship? Then this episode is for you!
Trailblazer Eleanor (Ellie) Smeal, co-founder and president of the Feminist Majority Foundation, joins Madam Policy to talk about her lifelong dedication to achieving social, political, and economic equality for women worldwide. Mentor and friend, Ellie joins Madam Policy host Dee Martin, former Feminist Majority intern and now Board member. The two discuss the importance of the Equal Rights Amendment, Title IX, reproductive choice, and the what’s at stake in the 2024 elections. Want to know more about gender apartheid in Afghanistan? What the U.N. calls “crimes against humanity”? What could happen with mifepristone? The potential for young people to decide the elections? Then this is the episode for you!
Madam Policy welcomes global leader and trailblazer in telecommunications and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Mignon Clyburn, former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Making history, Mignon was the first woman to serve as Chair of the powerful FCC.
Mignon joins Madam Policy hosts Dee Martin and Kendall Mitchell to discuss her journey to the top in an historically male-dominated field, the challenges and opportunities surrounding the widespread emergence of AI, her lifelong commitment to public service, and the work she is doing and has done to maintain an open and accessible internet for all.
Tune in to hear about how Mignon, daughter of Congressman James E. Clyburn, shaped her journey to the head of an executive agency through her experience at the South Carolina Public Service Commission and how mentorship has molded her path every step of the way.
Women and children’s rights activist, Maebel Gebremedhin, co-founder and president of Tigray Action Committee, shares the Tigrayan story of the conflict between the Government of Ethiopia, acting in alliance with Eritrea, and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front on Madam Policy this week. Born in a refugee camp in Sudan, Maebel sits down with host Dee Martin to discuss the “forgotten war,” conflict-based gender violence, and how her family background shaped her path in life. This episode spotlights the importance of women being involved in decision making processes, living by the mantra “if not me, then who?”, and how drawing attention to an issue can create change. Tune in to learn more!
Political strategist and technology entrepreneur, Lucy Caldwell, Founder of Mockingbird Lab, joins Madam Policy to talk about her work mobilizing independent voters, advocating for structural reforms to make politics more competitive, and disrupting old school grassroots organizing with innovative technologies. Lucy sits down with Madam Policy hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles to discuss the current state of political campaign technology and her focus on using data-driven strategies to drive voter engagement. Tune in for a healthy dose of political prognostication, too! Want to hear the toughest advice Lucy was told early on in her career? Tune in now!
Chief Strategy Officer for the CHIPS Program Office at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Dr. Morgan Dwyer, joins Madam Policy hosts Dee Martin and Ihna Mangundayao to talk about the critical work the CHIPS program does to ensure U.S. economic prosperity and national security. Dr. Dwyer highlights the work she’s doing to strengthen the U.S. semiconductor industry and the importance of investing in local communities and workforce development programs. Want to hear about the journey that landed Dr. Dwyer to become the woman leading a $39 billion investment portfolio focused on semiconductor manufacturing and the advice she would give to her 24-year-old self? Then tune in!
Madam Policy welcomes the Honorable Meredith Berger, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment and Chief Sustainability Officer! Secretary Berger joins hosts Dee Martin and Carolyn Spector to discuss climate readiness and the importance of women in STEM. Learn more about her “Three C” strategy that focuses on communities, critical infrastructure, and climate. Want to know what the Navy is doing for Earth Day and Energy Installations and Environment Week? Want to hear about ASN Berger’s letter to President H.W. Bush when she was seven? Then tune in!
Running Start Founder and CEO, Susannah Wellford, joins Madam Policy with hosts Dee Martin and Kendall Mitchell. Tune in as they talk with Susannah about empowering women to run for political office. A nonpartisan nonprofit organization, Running Start trains young women to run for political office and provides them with the tools they need to build a long-term community of support. Tune in to hear about some of the amazing and successful Running Start alumnae, as well as tips for success from Susannah based on her own impressive journey.
Madam Policy welcomes renowned constitutional scholar and Ms. Studios executive producer, Professor Michele Goodwin, to talk about the state of reproductive health rights in the United States. Dr. Goodwin—book author, activist, and professor of Constitutional Law & Global Health Policy at Georgetown University—chats with hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles about her journey in the law, her passion for equality, and the reality of the “Jane Crow” era. Want to hear the story of what happened when Dr. Goodwin met President Joe Biden? Then tune in!
Policy veteran and Baker Hughes’ super-smart Chief Sustainability Office, Allyson Anderson Book, joins Madam Policy for an all-new episode. Allyson chats with hosts Dee Martin and Brittany Pemberton about her strategy for ESG reporting and harmonization, as well as her leadership role in diversifying the perspectives at the decision-making table. Want to hear more about how the skills of the current energy workforce can be parlayed into the net-zero emissions economy? Want to join Allyson and Dee as they take a quick stroll down memory lane, remembering the work they did together to help ensure certainty in the nation’s helium supply (it’s not just for balloons!)? What advice would sustainability champion and geoscientist Allyson Anderson Book would give to her 24-year-old self? Tune in and find out!
Madam Policy is excited to welcome back the amazing Alexa Cole, Director of the NOAA Fisheries Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce. Hosts Dee Martin and Anna Karakitsos sit down with Alexa to talk about the work she is doing as she leads the U.S. government’s efforts on global management of marine resources. Want to hear about Alexa’s work combatting IUU fishing and forced labor or how Alexa navigates and negotiates international treaties? Then tune in!
On this episode, Madam Policy welcomes a rockstar in the energy space, Camille Moore, Senior Vice President of External Affairs at the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE). From being a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Energy Fellow to an environmental Policy Advisor for the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe to joining AABE during the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, Camille is and has been at the center of the energy sector. Camille joins hosts Dee Martin and Kendall Mitchell to discuss the work AABE is doing around the country to ensure community voices are being heard within the energy industry; the work Camille is doing as a member of the SWEEP Standard board; and more. Want to hear Camille’s advice to women of color wanting to advance in the energy field? Tune in!
Kicking off 2024 and Black History Month, Madam Policy welcomes two amazing and recognized leaders for race, social justice, and gender equality, Reverend Naomi Tutu and Author Mungi Ngomane! Daughter and granddaughter of the honorable Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Reverend Naomi Tutu and Mungi Ngomane, author of Everyday Ubuntu, join hosts Dee Martin and Kendall Mitchell this week. Hear from Rev. Tutu about the importance of living through the struggle, as she did when she ultimately accepted her call to the ministry. Hear from Mungi about the Southern African philosophy ubuntu, “I am only because you are,” and the smart, implementable lessons Mungi shares in her book, Everyday Ubuntu. Want to put a big smile on your face? Tune in to hear the mother-daughter dynamic duo talk about their pride in each other and a potential book in the works 👀.
** TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains a discussion of death by suicide. Listener discretion is advised.
Award-winning author and former California State Assemblymember, Mary Chung Hayashi, is a trailblazer and a leading advocate for women’s health. Throughout her career, Mary has shaped policy and created history. In 2006, Mary became the first Korean American woman elected to the California State Assembly. Mary is a fierce healthcare advocate, became the first director of the Asian Pacific Islanders for Choice and later founded the trailblazing National Asian Women’s Health Organization.
Mary joins host Dee Martin to discuss her new book, Women in Politics: Breaking Down the Barriers to Achieve True Representation. Want to know how Mary and Dee might have crossed paths in the 90’s? What is the “imagination barrier”? Can I still get this book for the women in my life before the holidays? Find out the answer to all of these questions and learn so much more!
Top advocate for renewables and GEVO Vice President of Government Affairs Lindsay Fitzgerlad joined Madam Policy upon her return from COP28, sharing her insight and wisdom! As a leading renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company, GEVO’s commitment to sustainability was front and center at COP28. Join host Dee Martin as she talks to Lindsay about her “aha” moment when the polices she’s been championing were embraced by US and foreign leaders at the COP. Want to learn more about the role of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in decarbonizing air travel? The role of sustainable agriculture in lower emissions? What advice this trailblazing renewable champion would give to her 24 year old self? Tune in now!
** The COP28 in 8 series is a series where we have 8-minute conversations with the women involved with COP28 in Dubai.
**This was recorded on December 13th, 2023, and events may have changed since this recording.
President of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and policy powerhouse Lisa Jacobson continues Madam Policy’s COP28 in 8 series, joining us on “Gender Day”! Lisa talks with hosts Dee Martin and Kendall Mitchell while in Dubai for the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP28. We check in with Lisa about BCSE’s role as a 65-member trade association representing the energy efficiency, natural gas, and renewable energy industries on the world stage. We also hear more about BCSE’s Sustainable Energy in America Factbook, the invaluable resource for government officials, stakeholders, and thought leaders. Want to hear more from this amazing woman who shapes policy every day to advance the clean energy transition? Tune in today!
The COP28 in 8 series is a series where we have 8-minute conversations with the women involved with COP28 in Dubai.
**This was recorded on December 4th 2023 and events may have changed since this recording.
Kicking off Madam Policy’s COP28 in 8 series is Founding Executive Editor of Cipher and top national energy and climate reporter Amy Harder. Amy joins hosts Dee Martin and Carolyn Spector from Dubai for the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, better known as COP28. Get the inside scoop from Amy about hot topics from methane reduction measures, the “investment gap,” the role of the oil and gas industry and more in this special episode of Madam Policy! Per usual, Amy is covering it all. Tune into this fast-paced episode and come back for the other quick convos that are part of our COP28 in 8 series.
** The COP28 in 8 series is a mini episode series where we have 8 minute conversations with the women involved with COP28 in Dubai.
**This was recorded on December 5th, 2023 and events may have changed since this recording.
Madam Policy is 100! We’re celebrating Madam Policy’s 100th episode and no better way than hosting trailblazer Dr. Geri Richmond, DOE’s Under Secretary for Science and Innovation! The brilliant physical chemist Dr. Richmond leads the Office of Science, the nation’s largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences; DOE’s applied R&D areas of nuclear, fossil, and renewable energy, and energy system integrity; and the DOE national laboratories and their facilities. Dr. Richmond has been honored by numerous awards including the National Medal of Science, the Priestley Medal from the American Chemical Society, and the Linus Pauling Medal Award. Deeply commitment to the advancement of women in science, Dr. Richmond is the founding director of a grassroots organization called COACh that has helped over 25,000 women scientists and engineers in career advancement in the U.S. and in dozens of developing countries globally.
Hosts Dee Martin and Rebecca Brown are joined by the Under Secretary to discuss the Department of Energy’s role in supporting the US’s advancement in energy, science, and technology. Want to learn about the nation’s top priorities for advancing the Clean Energy Transition? Want to hear our thoughts on the themes of the bestselling book Lessons in Chemistry and how it ties into Dr. Richmond’s real life work empowering women in STEM? Want to know what advice the Under Secretary would give to her 24-year-old self? Tune in to our monumental 100th episode now!
Earlier this year, the FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) made history by electing FBIAA President Special Agent Natalie Bara and FBIAA Vice President Special Agent Jen Morrow, the first female-duo, to lead the Association. The FBI Agents Association is a member organization representing current and former agents and focuses on three key areas: legal support, advocacy, and charitable foundations. This week, FBIAA hosts the 10th annual G-Man Honors gala, a fundraising event for the Association’s two key foundations. The Memorial College Fund pays the college tuition of children of Agents who die while employed by the Bureau, and the Membership Assistance Fund provides financial support in times of need for agents in the face of unexpected and often catastrophic situations.
Tune in as hosts Dee Martin and Kendall Mitchell sit down with Special Agents Bara and Morrow to discuss FBIAA policy priorities, the importance of supporting the FBI family, and offer important advice to young women thinking about becoming FBI Agents. Want to know what these Special Agents would be if they weren’t in the FBI? How the FBIAA is advocating in the executive and legislative branches for current and former Agents? What advice these groundbreaking women would give to their 24-year-old selves? Listen now!
President and CEO of Democracy Forward Skye Perryman, a leading figure in fight to safeguard our valued constitutional and civil liberties, shares her views on the key cases before the United States Supreme Court this term. Join hosts Dee Martin and Senior Principal Josh Zive as they engage Skye on a wide range of cases and their implications for democracy. Reproductive choice, gun control laws, and Chevron deference are all on the table. Plus, hear from Skye about being an advocate and shaping policy, as well as her advice on going to law school! Tune in to learn about all of this and more!
Are you ready to take some time for yourself every day? Restore your confidence? Rejuvenate your mind? Then pick up your copy of Self!sh by actress and author Stephanie Szostak today! Self!sh is your personal playbook for your mindset. Stephanie calls it “your toolkit to cope and grow.” Stephanie created Self!sh in collaboration with Give an Hour—a national mental health nonprofit focusing on providing direct counseling, peer support groups, and education. One thing that is absolutely NOT selfish about Stephanie is that a portion of the proceeds from her book go to Give an Hour.
Stephanie joins host Dee Martin to discuss her new book Self!sh, her struggles with anxiety, and her career. She shares about what led her to write Self!sh, highlighting her experience with loss and imposter syndrome as her career ramped up. She shares how those feelings led her on a journey to address how her self-worth is not tied to outside validation. Stephanie simultaneously inspires us and provides a pragmatic approach to developing tools to succeed in life.
Stephanie is an award-winning actor who played opposite Meryl Streep as French Vogue Editor Jacqueline Follet in the iconic film The Devil Wears Prada; she won Best Lead Actor – Female for her film Satellite; she played the villain Brandt opposite Robert Downey, Jr. in Iron Man 3 and so much more. She also starred in the ABC series A Million Little Things and now she is a new author! Don’t miss this episode.
“You’ve been given gifts, use them” is the advice that Co-Chair of VERITY NOW and policy powerhouse Beth Brooke would give to her 24-year-old self. Beth has dedicated her career to creating an inclusive space for women and the LGBTQ+ community. Prior to her work at VERITY NOW, an organization aimed at educating and advocating for gender equity in vehicle safety standards, Beth served as the Global Vice Chair of Ernst & Young, held multiple senior roles at the Department of the Treasury, and has chaired the Board of Vital Voices. This two-time delegate for the U.S. to the UN Commission on the Status of Women has been named one of Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women 11 times and has been vocal about the importance of differences in the workplace, whether it be professional or personal, and how it leads to a better product and working environment.
Tune in as hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles sit down with Beth Brooke to discuss how to become a “changemaker” in a world that deprioritizes gender and equity. From car safety standards to LGBTQ+ rights, Beth breaks down all the ways in which she has advocated for greater inclusion in professional spaces. Ever wonder about the accuracy of test dummies? Thinking about becoming more involved in advocacy? Or are you just really interested about Beth’s rise to stardom as an Indiana basketball legend? Tune in to learn about all this, and more!
United States District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Ana Reyes arrived in Kentucky from Spain at the age of five speaking very little English, making school and adaptation difficult. Ana’s first-grade teacher took notice and dedicated her personal time before school each morning teaching Ana the language. That early life lesson instilled in Judge Reyes a deep commitment to selfless service and paying it forward. Today, Judge Reyes is the first Hispanic woman and the first openly LGBTQ judge to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and is a role model for many others.
On this special episode of “Madam NOT Policy,” Judge Reyes joins hosts bestie Dee Martin and good friend Caitlin Sickles to discuss her journey from Uruguay to Spain to Kentucky to the bench. Highlights include tales of those who helped the Judge along the way, including first-grade teacher Patricia Harkleroad and her own mother, The Lilliam—a force of nature! Tune in as they discuss the importance of visibility for marginalized communities, conveying calm, and singing birds in trees (that’s for you, Elizabeth, also bestie). Want to hear about Judge Reyes’ love of the Boston Red Sox and her advice on how to best put on a bus tour? Tune in!
Do you know what “if you see it, you can be it” means? It’s a phrase designed for trailblazers like Ambassador Carrin Patman. Ambassador Patman has inspired thousands of young women to excel through her years of extraordinary service in the public and private sectors. Raised in a family dedicated to public service, Ambassador Patman has always known that she would find or create ways to strengthen her communities and pay it forward. The Ambassador, a former trial partner at Bracewell LLP, was the first woman to serve on the Firm’s Management Committee; she chaired the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County; and helped establish the Center for Women in Law at the University of Texas School of Law. In August of 2022, the U.S. Senate confirmed her to be the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Iceland. A powerhouse litigator, trailblazer for women in law, and mentor to many, Ambassador Patman has helped shape the future for women and broken down barriers in gender bias.
Host Dee Martin sits down with friend and mentor, Ambassador Patman, to talk about her legendary career and extraordinary journey. They discuss the relationship between the U.S. and Iceland as longstanding allies and the continued progress both countries can achieve together. Want to learn about Iceland’s utilization of different types of renewable energy? Overcoming gender bias in the workplace? How Thor’s hammer is used in the United Nations? Tune in now!
“Learn to be a storyteller” is just one of the pieces of advice that the brilliant Dr. Bhavya Lal would give to her 24-year-old self. Dr. Lal and her analyses have been at the forefront of space policy for the past decade; she created and curated the role Associate Administrator for Tech, Policy, and Strategy at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); and she was the first woman in 60 years to hold the position of acting chief technologist for NASA. She spent years in the private sector leading strategy technology assessment for The Institute for Defense Analyses. She has four degrees--three of which are from MIT--and she was nominated and selected to become a member of the International Academy of Astronautics.
Join hosts Dee Martin and chair of Bracewell’s technology section Constance Rhebergen as they speak with Dr. Lal about her amazing work with space initiatives, policy, and technology. They discuss the potential between international collaboration on Space IP, the Artemis program, and the efforts to explore space beyond our moon. Ever wonder about the increasing commercialization of space? Thinking about orbital debris? Curious about whether the plot of Gravity is more feasible that we thought? Then this episode is for you! Or, if you just really love golgappa, like our guest and hosts do, then this episode is really for you! Tune in now!
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, inspired by her mother former New York City Council Member Dr. Una S. T. Clarke and a predecessor of her current congressional seat U.S. Representative Shirley Chisolm, has dedicated her life to public service. Congresswoman Clarke is the U.S. Representative for New York’s 9th district—a district that prides itself on being an immigrant port and mosaic of different cultural, ethnic, and belief backgrounds. Not only is Clarke the Representative for NY-09, but she was also born and raised in the district she now represents after her parents immigrated from Jamaica to attend school in Brooklyn. Clarke co-chairs the Congressional Caribbean Caucus, is a Senior Member of both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Committee on Homeland Security and has been a member of the Congressional Black Caucus since coming to Congress in 2007 and chairs its Immigration Task Force.
Congresswoman Clarke sits down with hosts Dee Martin and “forever team Clarke” former staffer Kendall Mitchell to discuss her work, her leadership, and her constituents. They discuss Representative Clarke’s leadership within CBC and her policy priorities and roles during ALC. Want to know how to create systemic change? Tune in now!
Lina Tori Jan currently leads the implementation of Georgetown University’s new Afghanistan Initiative, Onward for Afghan Women, elevating and supporting Afghan women leaders with opportunities to continue their advocacy on behalf of Afghan women and girls. Shaped by her experiences as an Afghan woman raised in Afghanistan, Lina has worked around the globe with companies, NGOs, and governments, assisting in their efforts to create a more just society. Lina holds a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Oxford, and a B.A. in Leadership Studies and Political Science from the University of Richmond. Lina is widely regarded as a champion for civic and social justice, as well as a fierce advocate for refugees.
Lina sits down with hosts Dee Martin and former PRG intern Anum Merchant to talk about her work at Onward for Afghan Women and its objective to highlight the expertise of these Afghan women and make sure their voices are heard in the global policy debate. They discuss the role of the United Nations and the current discussion about recognizing “gender apartheid” in Afghanistan based on the Taliban’s rule and severe mistreatment of women and girls. Want to hear more from Lina on how “attentive leaders create a culture of grassroots empowerment”? Tune in now!
Ready to be inspired to use your voice and your vote? Hear from champion of democracy and lifelong social justice activist Virginia Kase Solomón, the CEO of the League of Women Voters (LWV). The LWV is the 103-year-old organization that formed just before the 19th Amendment was ratified, and women won the vote. That was on August 26, 1920. While every year that date is marked as Women’s Equality Day, for the second year, the LWV is declaring it Women’s Inequality Day because of the historic challenges women and allies currently face. The campaign—#WID23—calls on the federal government to pass voting rights legislation, add the Equal Rights Amendment to the US Constitution, and restore reproductive rights to women and those who can become pregnant.
Tune in as Virginia sits down with hosts Dee Martin and Kendall Mitchell to discuss #WID23, the critical role of Black women historically and today in the fight for democracy, and the qualities of being an effective leader. Don’t miss Virginia’s sage advice on “walking in your purpose” and not sweating the small stuff!
“Be open to new and different opportunities along the way”—sage advice from Toni-Marie Higgins, Chief of Staff to Sen. John Boozman (R-AR). With an impressive tenure of over two decades on Capitol Hill, Toni-Marie has worked her way up from Staff Assistant to Chief of Staff, only 1 of 32 women to hold this prestigious position in the Senate. Toni-Marie’s work is widely recognized. She was named a John C. Stennis Congressional Staff Fellow, and she co-leads the bipartisan group of female Chiefs of Staff and Staff Directors. Last year, she was part of an important team dedicated to supporting democracy through election observation in Kenya.
Tune in as hosts and Arkansans Dee Martin and Shelby Kelley sit down with Toni-Marie Higgins to discuss how “bipartisanship is still very much alive in the halls of Congress if you look hard enough.” Hear how Toni-Marie balances between the policy and politics, elevates female leaders across Congress, and aims for bipartisanship. Perhaps most importantly, hear about the Boozman Team’s important work for the great state of Arkansas! Want to hear about the Farm bill, what makes a good Hill staffer, and how to make great pasta? Listen now!
“Persistence and resiliency” are words to live by, according to trailblazer and innovator Dr. Evelyn Wang. During her successful tenure as Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), President Biden nominated Dr. Wang to lead the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), the “crown jewel” and research arm of the U.S. Department of Energy. Dr. Wang and her team of brilliant inventers identify, develop, and fund disruptive energy innovations in their developmental stages. Tasked with thinking boldly and outside the box, ARPA-E is a catalyst for early-stage R&D. Having participated in APRA-E’s Energy Innovation Summit to now leading it, Dr. Wang is strengthening the community of industry leaders and innovators who share her passion for solving energy problems and powering the clean energy future.
Dr. Wang joins hosts Dee Martin and Carolyn Spector to discuss her work as Director of ARPA-E and her experiences as a department head, beloved professor, and mentor at MIT. From geomechanical pumps to thermal batteries, Dr. Wang breaks down ARPA-E’s process to transform early ideas into proof-of-concept demonstrations. Dr. Wang discusses the importance of supporting young innovators, especially women, and how women in STEM should reject “imposter syndrome” and instead “savor the spotlight.” Tune in now!
“Do well while doing good” is the philosophy that global public affairs and policy powerhouse Susan Davis has followed throughout her four-decade long career. As owner of Susan DavisInternational and global activist, Susan has received numerous awards such as the Global Empowerment Humanitarian Award, the Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Business, and National Woman Business Owner of the Year. As the Board Chair for Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation and Chair Emeritus of Vital Voices Global Partnership, Susan works closely with Afghan women and children. Renowned for her proficiency in strategic positioning, reputation management, government relations, and crisis communications, Susan Davis does it all!
Tune in as hosts Dee Martin and Kendall Mitchell sit down with Susan to discuss the role of resiliency in shaping policy, staying on track even when things go awry, and the normalcy of failure. Want to hear about Susan’s work on military caregiving, a discussion about ongoing issues in Sudan, and losing John Wayne’s toupee on national television? Listen now!
“Ignore the naysayers,” is the advice that Colorado’s Secretary of State Jena Griswold would give to her 24-year-old self and other young people. Hailing from rural Colorado, hard-working Secretary Griswold became the youngest elected Secretary of State in the United States. Currently in her second term, Secretary Griswold oversees state-wide elections and is dedicated to protecting voter’s rights and expanding access to elections. The Secretary is also dedicated to ensuring access to reproductive healthcare in Colorado and has worked with Governor Jared Polis to do so.
Secretary Griswold joins host Dee Martin to discuss her important work on these and many other issues, and she also shares pragmatic lessons learned throughout her journey. Don’t miss the conversation between the Secretary and Dee about the importance of bipartisan advocacy and coalition building, as well as the harmful role of mis- and disinformation in political campaigns. Tune in now!
In an activity awash with top minds and top talent, Eugenia (Eu) Giamepetruzzi and Grace Kessler stand out as two of the best, brightest, and fastest collegiate debaters in the country. This pair of scholars from Emory University recently finished the 2023 debate season earning the award for second best partnership in the country for the regular season, culminating in a Final Four appearance at the prestigious National Debate Tournament championship. On top of that, Eu is the first woman to be crowned with the #1 individual speaker award at the national championship in back-to-back years.
Hosts Dee Martin and successful, former college debater David Bernstein sit down with Eu and Grace to talk about the high stakes-high reward ecosystem of collegiate debate. Grace and Eu also discuss how their finely honed debate skills translate into success in shaping policy across a spectrum of issue areas, including mental healthcare. Tune in to hear what advice Eu and Grace would give to their 50-year-old selves and take a listen to what the fast-paced and highly successful duo sound like using their debate voices!
U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) is a military veteran, a doctor, and a strong champion of ethanol, biofuels, and energy security. What listeners may not know is that the Congresswoman wanted to be a teacher and a series of events led her to a career as a doctor and now, a Member of Congress. Compassionate, passionate, and smart, Congresswoman Miller-Meeks has parlayed her previous work into the work she does today, serving on the Veterans Affairs committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee. A woman who has shattered the glass ceiling on a number of occasions, Representative Miller-Meeks is a trailblazer and role model for many.
Co-hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson sit down with Congresswoman Miller-Meeks to talk about veterans’ mental health and the importance of creating a safe space for people who served. Of course, no conversation about Iowa is complete without a discussion of corn and the use of biofuels to reduce CO2 emissions, so tune in to hear more about her bipartisan legislation the Next Generation Fuels Act. Want to know what it takes to be an effective leader? Listen now!
U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) has just finished her first 100 days in office. Tune in to hear about her important work on behalf of Southern and Central Illinois, on the Farm Bill, and on rural and veteran healthcare. No stranger to Washington, DC, the Congresswoman brings to bear extensive policy and political experience gained at the highest levels of state and federal government, as well as over a decade of experience in the labor movement. The throughline of this important work? Advocating for working families. Her superpower? The ability to get things done.
Congresswoman Budzinski joins Dee Martin and the Congresswoman’s Legislative Director John Lee to discuss the importance of negotiation and intentional bipartisanship in policymaking. Another key ingredient? State fair diplomacy! You don’t want to miss the advice this smart and passionate policymaker would give to her 24-year-old self. Listen now!
Born and raised in Cordova, Alaska, Rachel Kallander grew up with the motto “know who you are, know who you represent.” Rachel carries that motto with her today, and it drives her work on behalf of Alaska and the Arctic. As the founder and executive director of Artic Encounter, Rachel convenes the largest annual Arctic policy and business conference in the U.S. today. With over 1,000 attendees this year—including Ambassadors, US Senators, dignitaries, indigenous and youth leaders—Arctic Encounter convened panels on important topics ranging from climate change, energy development, healthcare, and more. Also the founder and CEO of Kallander & Associates, Rachel works to effectively engage the issues and opportunities affecting Alaska and the Arctic through bipartisan policy development and creative collaboration. From working with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to owning and publishing the 114-year-old Cordova Times, Rachel’s goal is to make sure that when it comes to Alaska and the Arctic, the health of the environment and the people are a key part of the conversation.
Rachel joins hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson to discuss her passion for the Arctic region and how growing up in a fishing family in Alaska anchors her mission. Tune in to hear about Rachel’s journey form working with Senator Murkowski (R-AK) to becoming the publisher of Prince William Sound’s oldest newspaper, the Cordova Times, established in 1914. And don’t miss the story of being named an Honorary Consul to Alaska by the government of Iceland! Tune in now!
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault and sexual violence. Listener discretion is advised.
Trailblazer and author Robin Schepper is committed to transparency and democracy—two throughlines in her new memoir Finding My Way: A Memoir of Family, Identity and Political Ambition (release date April 18th). Join hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles as they talk with Robin about why she shared her extraordinary life story and the importance of authenticity in doing so. They discuss the implications of overturning Roe v. Wade; the negative mental and physical effects of keeping secrets; and the importance of participating in the democratic process. Robin, who served at the highest levels of American politics and government for over three decades, offers practical and insightful advice, including sharing her Nana’s sage words, “Life is short. Eat dessert first.” This is one you don’t want to miss!
Global leader and history maker Judith Batty is no stranger to being in the room where history is made. Judith was the first woman and African American to be General Counsel of Exxon Mobil’s Japanese affiliate, she was the first Black CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA, and she was one of the first youth delegates to attend the National Council Session for Girl Scouts in 1975 when Gloria Randle Scott was elected the first Black president of Girl Scouts of the USA. Now, Judith serves on the Board of Directors at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority where she co-chairs the Finance Committee and the Executive and Governance Committee and serves on the Strategic Development and the Environmental, Social, and Governance Committees.
Tune in as Judith sits down with hosts Dee Martin and Ihna Mangundayao to discuss her team’s efforts to make DC-area airports more sustainable, how she guided the Girls Scouts through the challenges of COVID, and advice on how young professionals can have a bigger voice in the workplace. Want to hear Judith’s thoughts on getting on boards? Her view on how the oil and gas industry is changing? Her greatest leadership lessons learned so far? Then turn on airplane mode and listen in to this exciting episode of Madam Policy!
Amazon best-selling author, published writer, frequent on-air personality, and radio host Reecie Colbert has always been unbossed and unfiltered. She recently debuted her own show on Sirius XM Urban View called “The Reecie Colbert Show,” but Reecie is not new to the world of media and politics. From founding BlackWomenViews media, to becoming a best-selling author of Long and Short of it Guide to the 2022 Midterms, to appearing weekly on Sirius XM’s Clay Cane Show, to making her childhood dream of becoming a talk show host come true, Reecie is a trailblazer for women in media and politics.
How does Reecie tackle disinformation? What’s it like to have call-in listeners on your own show? What’s next in Reecie’s expansive empire? How does highly successful media entrepreneur Reecie Colbert juggle multiple platforms, speaking engagements, and family life? One word: Grace. Tune in as hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson sit down with Reecie to hear it all…#Unbossed & #Unfiltered!
Published author and award-winning journalist Emma Goldberg is on a mission: to understand why people do the things they do. Curiosity at an early age drove her to ask questions about human behavior, and the role of reporter provided the perfect vehicle for doing just that: asking people “why?”. Now a highly-recognized business journalist at the New York Times, Emma covers the future of work. Why are 37-year-olds afraid of the 23-year-olds who work for them? What is “techlash”? How do you prepare if you are worried you might lose your job? Emma covers all of these hot topics and more on her beat and offers invaluable insight into today’s workforce. And, her book, Life on the Line: Young Doctors Come of Age in a Pandemic, follows young doctors who entered the healthcare workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic and received universal acclaim, including the Washington Post calling the book “essential reading.”
Tune in to this week’s episode as Emma sits down with hosts Dee Martin and Ihna Mangundayao to discuss the modern work force and the role young people have in it. They also discuss the trends in online/remote work, young doctors experiencing burnout from their pandemic practices, and the debate that rages over the use of Comic Sans—use it or not?
Champion for justice and distinguished litigator, Skye Perryman’s mission is to protect democracy. President and CEO of Democracy Forward, Skye Perryman returned to Madam Policy to chat about her important work, including Democracy Forward’s celebration of its “Five Years of Impact,” with hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson. Skye was last on the pod before the United States Supreme Court issued its Dobbs opinion, which overturned Roe v. Wade. Not one to stand by quietly, Democracy Forward under Skye’s leadership, just this month filed a “first of its kind” lawsuit on behalf of GenBioPro, a maker of one of the two abortion drugs in the reproductive healthcare space. Skye also discussed the role the Dobbs decision played in 2022 midterm elections and the potential impact on the 2024 presidential race.
Want to hear more about Skye’s work on student debt relief? What she believes is the biggest threat to democracy? Her strong commitment to mentorship? What she’ll talk about at SXSW? Then tune in because this is an episode you don’t want to miss!
In a special post-State of the Union episode, hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson are once again joined by powerful force for constituents and voice for House Dems, Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16). As the newly elected Co-Chair for the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, Congresswoman Escobar is guiding the messaging for policy priorities of the Democratic Caucus in the 118th Congress. And on that note, how will Dems message the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act? Tune in to find out!
Rep. Escobar also talks about her top takeaways from President Biden’s SOTU address, immigration reform, paid sick leave and FMLA, and more. Want to know what advice this powerhouse Congresswoman would give to her future self? Listen in!
A 20-year veteran and leader in the energy finance space, Elena Robciuc spearheads Societe Generale’s early-mover goals in financing decarbonization strategies, including carbon capture and sequestration, hydrogen, biofuels, and energy storage. As Managing Director and Houston Team Lead of Energy+ Group for one of the world’s largest banks, Elena and her institution are working towards making a positive impact on sustainability and our clean energy future.
In this week’s episode, join Bracewell partners Dee Martin and Stephanie Koo Song as they host Elena on Madam Policy. Is the Inflation Reduction Act a game changer? Is clean hydrogen a new asset class? How are banks doing their part to help achieve net-zero emissions? What are Elena’s top tips for success for young professionals? And, what advice would Elena give her 24-year-old self? You’ll learn something new in this episode—don’t miss it!
Brand maven Madeline Fetterly’s advice to her 24-year-old self? Don’t worry about the path—just do the next interesting thing. Good advice from a woman who not only does the next interesting thing, but also she invents it. Before Madeline started Be the Brand, she worked at powerhouse international women’s empowerment organization, Vital Voices. Hear about Madeline’s decision to leave beloved Vital Voices and focus on Be the Brand, a decision she made because she knew that she “could no longer run full speed in both directions.”
This Madam Policy episode is full of pragmatic, implementable and important advice on building your own personal brand: what to do and what not to do. Madeline sits down with hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles to discuss personal and professional branding in the digital space, how to make decisions on career shifts, and how to balance working and growing in your career with being a mother and a member of a family. Make sure to tune in!
When Kristi Rogers sees a problem, she feels compelled to find a solution. Kristi does it all: not only is she the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Principal to Principal, but also she is a leading risk management expert functioning at the intersection of geopolitical stability, corporate leadership, and crisis communications. This serial and successful start-up CEO has over 25-years of experience accumulated through her service in senior roles in the federal government and leadership on the boards of publicly-traded companies.
This week, Kristi chats with hosts Dee Martin and Executive Director of the FBI Agents Association, friend of Madam Policy, and previous guest Jean O’Connor, about the importance of learning from life’s work. Hear about Kristi’s time in Iraq serving as federal official, the founding of her successful companies, and leading conversations with women leaders in Ukraine and Iran. Want to know more about the solutions for global supply chain disruptions? Semiconductors? The threat China poses? Cybersecurity risks? Tune into this episode because Kristi has thoughts on—and policy solutions for—all of them!
Also, you don’t want to miss the advice she would give her 24-year old self and what fascinating books are on her nightstand!
Episode Description: TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains a discussion on grooming and youth trafficking and exploitation. Listener discretion advised.
Lerina Bright spent years in sports management with international sports federations in Europe, the Middle East, North America, and the Caribbean. From there, she began her journey into ending human trafficking in sport. She soon founded and became Executive Director of Mission 89 and dedicated her life to ending exploitation of young athletes. An outspoken advocate, Lerina recently organized an event in New York during the 77th United Nations General Assembly on the topic featuring her own remarks and those of Samuel Eto’o, world-famous soccer player, who spoke about the abandonment of young footballers.
With the backdrop of the FIFA World Cup currently taking place in Qatar, hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles sit down with Lerina to discuss the status of trafficking in sport and the risk to young athletes. Lerina discusses her recent work urging the adoption of a UN resolution and Mission 89’s work emphasizing continued improvement through relationships and collaborations.
Don’t miss out- take a listen!
Trailblazer Deidre DeJear is the first Black woman to earn a major party’s nomination for Iowa Governor. A passionate advocate, Deidre is no stranger to the rush of a good election cycle. From being an organizer on President Obama’s 2012 campaign to being the Iowa Campaign Chair for Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign, Deidre has tirelessly campaigned for candidates and causes she believes in. She was even at the center of a campaign as the Democratic nominee for the Iowa Secretary of State race in 2018.
Deidre joins hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson to talk about the 2022 campaign trial and about her top priorities, including education. According to Deidre, “Our children are worth fighting for the best education system possible.” With a background in journalism, Deidre reminds everyone that in today’s political climate it’s important to balance facts with emotion. Tune in as Deidre shares her advice for her 24 year-old self, “You are enough.” For more words of wisdom from Deidre, download today!
“All who follow stand on the shoulders of giants,” said FBIAA Executive Director and former FBI Special Agent Jean O’Connor. In this Madam Policy episode, hear from those giants: the FBI’s first female FBI Agents Susan Malone and Joanne Misko.
Joanne and Susan share their stories about going to and through Quantico, working cases, and inspiring the next generation of women Agents. “We wanted to be agents first, and we just happened to be women.” Listen to the incredible stories and journeys from the trailblazing Nun and Marine.
Don’t miss this episode!
Dr. Xanthe Scharff, or Madam X according to her childhood nickname, has made it her goal to “bring people together and make space” for those not always at the front of the conversation. She is the CEO and Co-Founder of The Fuller Project, a global newsroom dedicated to reporting on women and publishing with leading outlets. Xanthe has also been recognized by the Leadership Center for Excellence as a Top 40 under 40 visionary leader, been honored with a Genius Grant from the Helen Gurley Brown Trust, and is the founder of Advancing Girls Education (AGE) Africa.
This week, Xanthe sits with hosts Dee Martin and Carolyn Spector to discuss the importance of uplifting women’s voices in journalism and partnering with local women reporters around the world to cover global stories. They also discuss social media’s role in journalism and how the power of journalism can make an impact around the world.
Tune in to hear about the gender and racial disparities in healthcare and the workforce that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and more stories covered by Xanthe and The Fuller Project.
“Data does not mean we know the future; it just means we can quantify our uncertainty.” Kristen Soltis Anderson, renowned pollster and author, wrote that in her ground-breaking book The Selfie Vote: Where Millennials Are Leading America. Widely recognized for having her finger on the pulse of the electorate, some of Kristin’s accolades include being one of Elle’s “Most Compelling Women in Washington;” Time’s “30 Under 30 Changing the World;” and Washingtonian’s “100 Tech Titans.”
A founding partner of Echelon Insights, Kristin sat down with the Madam Policy team to share her midterm 2022 insight with hosts Dee Martin, Yasmin Nelson, and Liam Donovan on this special episode discuss all things midterms 2022. Want to know which issue is more compelling for voters—reproductive choice or the economy? Tune in! What will happen in key Senate races in Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania? Tune in! What is the role of social media on the elections? Tune in! As the 2022 midterms are less than a week away, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!
Renowned author and inspiring change-maker Nicole Lynn Lewis put herself through the College of William & Mary as a teen mother, starting as a freshman when her daughter was just three months old. Author of her memoir and NPR Best Book 2021 honoree, Pregnant Girl: A Story of Teen Motherhood, College, and Creating a Better Future for Young Families, Nicole has been named a CNN Hero and won the Roslyn S. Jaffe Award. She has appeared on CNN, NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, and many others, and her journey has been covered in the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, TeenVogue, and the Chronicle for Higher Education. Now the Founder and CEO of Generation Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping young parents and families succeed through all levels of education, Nicole is shaping policy and creating history every day. On the latest episode of Madam Policy, hosts Dee Martin, Yasmin Nelson, and Adriney Chepeian sit down with Nicole to discuss her journey overcoming obstacles as a young mother in college and how it inspired her to help others.
Tune in to hear Nicole talk about the intersection of race, cultural bias, poverty, and parenthood. Nicole also gives great advice on finding your cheering squad and knowing your own worth. Count Madam Policy as part of your cheering squad, Nicole!
Renowned author and inspiring change-maker Nicole Lynn Lewis put herself through the College of William & Mary as a teen mother, starting as a freshman when her daughter was just three months old. Author of her memoir and NPR Best Book 2021 honoree, Pregnant Girl: A Story of Teen Motherhood, College, and Creating a Better Future for Young Families, Nicole has been named a CNN Hero and won the Roslyn S. Jaffe Award. She has appeared on CNN, NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, and many others, and her journey has been covered in the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, TeenVogue, and the Chronicle for Higher Education. Now the Founder and CEO of Generation Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping young parents and families succeed through all levels of education, Nicole is shaping policy and creating history every day. On the latest episode of Madam Policy, hosts Dee Martin, Yasmin Nelson, and Adriney Chepeian sit down with Nicole to discuss her journey overcoming obstacles as a young mother in college and how it inspired her to help others.
Tune in to hear Nicole talk about the intersection of race, cultural bias, poverty, and parenthood. Nicole also gives great advice on finding your cheering squad and knowing your own worth. Count Madam Policy as part of your cheering squad, Nicole!
“Do things that make you uncomfortable” is the advice that equity champion and tech industry leader Francesca McCrary would give to her 24-year-old self. On this week’s episode, Director of Government Affairs for Dell Technologies, Francesca McCrary, joins hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson to discuss her successful career transitions, the importance of uplifting others, and what’s next on the Dell policy agenda. Francesca also discusses her time on Capitol Hill and the lessons she learned about self-advocacy and the importance of being prepared.
Make sure to tune in to hear about Francesca’s time at The Citadel Military College and how she is one of less than 200 Black women who have graduated from there. Also hear about how a group of women coming together to lift each other up led to Francesca being named a 2021 Top Lobbyist by the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!
“Do things that make you uncomfortable” is the advice that equity champion and tech industry leader Francesca McCrary would give to her 24-year-old self. On this week’s episode, Director of Government Affairs for Dell Technologies, Francesca McCrary, joins hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson to discuss her successful career transitions, the importance of uplifting others, and what’s next on the Dell policy agenda. Francesca also discusses her time on Capitol Hill and the lessons she learned about self-advocacy and the importance of being prepared.
Make sure to tune in to hear about Francesca’s time at The Citadel Military College and how she is one of less than 200 Black women who have graduated from there. Also hear about how a group of women coming together to lift each other up led to Francesca being named a 2021 Top Lobbyist by the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!
True equality lies in access to excellent education. That belief led entrepreneur and trailblazer Leelila Strogov to create her own education platform that helps students get into top colleges. On this week’s episode of Madam Policy, hosts Dee Martin and Rebecca Brown sit down with Founder & CEO of AtomicMind, Leelila Strogov, to discuss the importance of celebrating children at every level, how collaboration is essential to successful education, and the importance of storytelling. An Emmy-nominated journalist and award-winning film creator, Leelila is keenly aware of the power of storytelling, and she shares her skills and craft with students to help them find and share their own stories during the admissions process.
What’s her inspiration? Leelila talks about how the women and educators who helped her as a child inspired her to want to provide quality education to others. Tune in to hear how Leelila is revolutionizing the education technology world and why it is important not to judge children at a young age.
Also, stay tuned to hear about Leelila’s first short film and what she has planned next!
True equality lies in access to excellent education. That belief led entrepreneur and trailblazer Leelila Strogov to create her own education platform that helps students get into top colleges. On this week’s episode of Madam Policy, hosts Dee Martin and Rebecca Brown sit down with Founder & CEO of AtomicMind, Leelila Strogov, to discuss the importance of celebrating children at every level, how collaboration is essential to successful education, and the importance of storytelling. An Emmy-nominated journalist and award-winning film creator, Leelila is keenly aware of the power of storytelling, and she shares her skills and craft with students to help them find and share their own stories during the admissions process.
What’s her inspiration? Leelila talks about how the women and educators who helped her as a child inspired her to want to provide quality education to others. Tune in to hear how Leelila is revolutionizing the education technology world and why it is important not to judge children at a young age.
Also, stay tuned to hear about Leelila’s first short film and what she has planned next!
What is “future proofing”? Hear from Tisha Schuller, an energy policy thought leader who is proactively helping companies navigate the rapidly shifting energy landscape. This week, Founder and CEO of Adamantine Energy and host of the Energy Thinks podcast, Tisha Schuller, breaks down her multifaceted approach to energy development, which faces an unprecedented set of challenges evolving at breakneck speed. Whether she’s working with oil and gas companies to develop a path to a decarbonized energy future or advising environmental NGOs and Think Tanks, Tisha effectively collaborates to bring everyone into the energy future together.
Tune into Madam Policy this week with hosts Dee Martin, Christine Wyman, and Adriney Chepeian as they discuss Tisha’s alternate approach to policy discussions, environmental justice, natural gas prices from a policy perspective, and the importance of having women represented at the highest levels. Also tune in to hear about Tisha’s exciting, upcoming book, Real Decarbonization: How Oil and Gas Companies Are Seizing the Low Carbon Future. Stay for Tisha’s top tips to her 24- year-old former hippie self!
What is “future proofing”? Hear from Tisha Schuller, an energy policy thought leader who is proactively helping companies navigate the rapidly shifting energy landscape. This week, Founder and CEO of Adamantine Energy and host of the Energy Thinks podcast, Tisha Schuller, breaks down her multifaceted approach to energy development, which faces an unprecedented set of challenges evolving at breakneck speed. Whether she’s working with oil and gas companies to develop a path to a decarbonized energy future or advising environmental NGOs and Think Tanks, Tisha effectively collaborates to bring everyone into the energy future together.
Tune into Madam Policy this week with hosts Dee Martin, Christine Wyman, and Adriney Chepeian as they discuss Tisha’s alternate approach to policy discussions, environmental justice, natural gas prices from a policy perspective, and the importance of having women represented at the highest levels. Also tune in to hear about Tisha’s exciting, upcoming book, Real Decarbonization: How Oil and Gas Companies Are Seizing the Low Carbon Future. Stay for Tisha’s top tips to her 24- year-old former hippie self!
Heather Kennedy never thought her career would look like 20+ years with the same company. Why did she stay? Because of The Home Depot’s unwavering commitment to its customers, its associates, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Join us this week as hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson sit down with The Home Depot’s Vice President of Government Relations, Heather Kennedy, while she breaks down her 20 years of consistent growth and leadership with The Home Depot. Heather gives advice on how to be a successful lobbyist, including her important work on navigating Congress, critical supply chains, and the pandemic. If you’re curious about her proudest career moment, tune in!
Heather also dives into her professional and personal commitment to diversity and education, including The Home Depot’s partnership with Women Who Code and Ladies Who Launch, a nonprofit dedicated to elevating and empowering women and non-binary business owners.
Heather Kennedy never thought her career would look like 20+ years with the same company. Why did she stay? Because of The Home Depot’s unwavering commitment to its customers, its associates, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Join us this week as hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson sit down with The Home Depot’s Vice President of Government Relations, Heather Kennedy, while she breaks down her 20 years of consistent growth and leadership with The Home Depot. Heather gives advice on how to be a successful lobbyist, including her important work on navigating Congress, critical supply chains, and the pandemic. If you’re curious about her proudest career moment, tune in!
Heather also dives into her professional and personal commitment to diversity and education, including The Home Depot’s partnership with Women Who Code and Ladies Who Launch, a nonprofit dedicated to elevating and empowering women and non-binary business owners.
Kate Mangino, Ph.D., is a gender expert and newly-minted author of Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home. Kate has been a leader in the gender equity space for over 20 years and has worked in in women’s empowerment, HIV prevention, and forced childhood marriage prevention. This week, Kate sits down with hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles to discuss the importance of couples sharing both good and bad stories, how language and set terms can help enable conversations on gender equity in the home, and her new book which serves as a guide to facilitating hard conversations with friends, family, and yourself.
Kate also gives advice for new and aspiring writers to become a part of the community and the importance of trusting yourself. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!
Kate Mangino, Ph.D., is a gender expert and newly-minted author of Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home. Kate has been a leader in the gender equity space for over 20 years and has worked in in women’s empowerment, HIV prevention, and forced childhood marriage prevention. This week, Kate sits down with hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles to discuss the importance of couples sharing both good and bad stories, how language and set terms can help enable conversations on gender equity in the home, and her new book which serves as a guide to facilitating hard conversations with friends, family, and yourself.
Kate also gives advice for new and aspiring writers to become a part of the community and the importance of trusting yourself. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!
Sarah Maguire is a trailblazer who is committed to empowering others. As the global director of safeguarding for international development company DAI and the first person to hold such a role at any private development organization, Sarah is not only strengthening DAI’s policies and practices around the prevention of and response to sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, but she is also paving the way for other organizations to improve their standards. Her work serves to protect women and girls in conflict zones as well as ensure that victims can report issues and perpetrators can be identified and held accountable.
In this episode, Sarah joins co-hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles to share incredible anecdotes of humanity, bravery, and resilience from her 20 years of experience in fragile and conflict-affected states.
Stay until the end to hear how Sarah, also a trained clown, makes a key lesson in clowning - “It’s always your turn” – a core part of her leadership style, empowering others by taking the first step and showing them their own strength.
Sarah Maguire is a trailblazer who is committed to empowering others. As the global director of safeguarding for international development company DAI and the first person to hold such a role at any private development organization, Sarah is not only strengthening DAI’s policies and practices around the prevention of and response to sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, but she is also paving the way for other organizations to improve their standards. Her work serves to protect women and girls in conflict zones as well as ensure that victims can report issues and perpetrators can be identified and held accountable.
In this episode, Sarah joins co-hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles to share incredible anecdotes of humanity, bravery, and resilience from her 20 years of experience in fragile and conflict-affected states.
Stay until the end to hear how Sarah, also a trained clown, makes a key lesson in clowning - “It’s always your turn” – a core part of her leadership style, empowering others by taking the first step and showing them their own strength.
If we took every woman who has ever served as governor in American history and put them on a DC metro car, they would not only all fit, but also would get their own seat. This is compared to the more than 2,300 men who have served as governor. Amanda Hunter is on the frontlines of the efforts to change this picture. She serves as the Executive Director of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, where she leads the Foundation’s nonpartisan efforts to advance women’s political equality and increase women’s representation in state, local, and federal government positions. This week, Amanda joins hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson as they discuss the impact of the recent Dobbs decision on the midterms, advancing women of color candidates, internalizing failure, and more. Amanda’s commentary is especially relevant, given the upcoming midterm elections. The Foundation’s polling finds that 3 out of 5 women believe that November’s election will be more important than most. Don’t miss out on this new episode of the Madam Policy Podcast with Amanda Hunter, a leader in achieving gender parity in politics.
If we took every woman who has ever served as governor in American history and put them on a DC metro car, they would not only all fit, but also would get their own seat. This is compared to the more than 2,300 men who have served as governor. Amanda Hunter is on the frontlines of the efforts to change this picture. She serves as the Executive Director of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, where she leads the Foundation’s nonpartisan efforts to advance women’s political equality and increase women’s representation in state, local, and federal government positions. This week, Amanda joins hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson as they discuss the impact of the recent Dobbs decision on the midterms, advancing women of color candidates, internalizing failure, and more. Amanda’s commentary is especially relevant, given the upcoming midterm elections. The Foundation’s polling finds that 3 out of 5 women believe that November’s election will be more important than most. Don’t miss out on this new episode of the Madam Policy Podcast with Amanda Hunter, a leader in achieving gender parity in politics.
Tune in to this special edition of Madam Policy which features an episode of our sister podcast, The Lobby Shop, as they interview Madam Policy’s own Yasmin Nelson.
Dee Martin is joined by Yasmin Nelson to recap the historic congressional launch of the Mamas' Caucus. Before diving into the Lobby Shop episode, Yasmin also shares details about what's on the horizon for advocating for mothers of color and their families, including the formation of a coalition.
Read more about The Lobby Shop episode featuring Yasmin.
On this episode, the Lobby Shop team is joined by very special guest, PRG Senior Principal Yasmin Nelson! Tune in to hear about Yasmin’s transition from working in the Senate, where she met with advocates who wanted to bring awareness to their issues, to her work now at Bracewell’s Policy Resolution Group, where she is on the other side advocating policy issues by connecting with staffers, members of Congress, and members of the administration. Yasmin also shares details about some of the important work that she is currently doing with Mothering Justice, including the historic launch of the Mamas’ Caucus. The newly formed congressional caucus advocates for mothers of color and their families and empowers them to be engaged and hold those in charge accountable to make the changes they want to see. This is an episode that you won’t want to miss!
From a young age, U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) dreamed of making a difference in people’s lives. Now, as the first Hispanic Member of Congress from Washington state, she is living her dream. This fiercely independent advocate for her district, constituents, and the nation, sits on the powerful Appropriations Committee and co-founded the bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus, the first of its kind in Congress. This week, Congresswoman Beutler joins hosts Dee Martin and Anna Karakitsos from the U.S. Capitol to tell her story about her journey to DC and her bipartisan leadership on maternal health, mental health, promoting American jobs, and more. Plus, she advises young people on how to get involved in causes important to them and explains why you need to “invite yourself to the party.”
From a young age, U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) dreamed of making a difference in people’s lives. Now, as the first Hispanic Member of Congress from Washington state, she is living her dream. This fiercely independent advocate for her district, constituents, and the nation, sits on the powerful Appropriations Committee and co-founded the bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus, the first of its kind in Congress. This week, Congresswoman Beutler joins hosts Dee Martin and Anna Karakitsos from the U.S. Capitol to tell her story about her journey to DC and her bipartisan leadership on maternal health, mental health, promoting American jobs, and more. Plus, she advises young people on how to get involved in causes important to them and explains why you need to “invite yourself to the party.”
Estimates published by The Trevor Project in 2021 show that at least one LGBTQ youth between the ages of 13–24 attempts suicide every 45 seconds in the U.S.
As the Senior Fellow for Advocacy & Government Affairs for The Trevor Project, the world's largest suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ young people, Casey Pick is on a mission to change that reality by leading efforts to advance policies supporting LGBTQ youth.
Casey sat down with hosts Dee Martin, Emily Schmidlin, and Grace Kessler to discuss the launch of the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, banning conversion therapy, and other policy efforts needed to save lives. Also, Casey shares how her personal experiences and background has helped her to relate to people from a variety of backgrounds and become a leading voice in policy. You don’t want to miss this empowering episode of Madam Policy with Casey as she shares with listeners how she shapes policy and creates history through advocacy for the LGBTQ community.
As the world continues to prioritize a cleaner and more energy efficient future, large-scale clean energy projects have taken center stage. But who is behind the policy and implementation of these types of projects?
Meet Cordi O’Hara, President of National Grid Ventures—the unregulated, innovation arm of National Grid—and the woman leading the charge for developing and operating large-scale clean energy projects like offshore wind, solar, onshore wind, and transmission in the US and electricity connectors in the UK.
Cordi sat down with hosts Dee Martin and George Felcyn to discuss her pathway to becoming the President of National Grid Ventures and how her continuous work contributes to groundbreaking National Grid projects—like linking England and Norway through the world’s largest subsea interconnectors (450 miles!) and supporting National Grid’s plan to go fossil free by 2050. Don’t miss this special episode of Madam Policy with Cordi, a 2019 Officer of the Order of the British Empire recipient, to learn more about how she shapes policy and creates history in the energy industry.
“The world is a crisis for women and girls. There is no safe place for women,” - Mendy Marsh, Co-Founder and Executive Director of VOICE.
It is estimated that nearly 30% of the population of Ukraine is displaced as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war, most of whom are women and girls now at great risk for gender-based violence and exploitation.
Join hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles as they unpack the findings of a new VOICE report, “Waiting for the Sky to Close,” on the experiences of women and girls in the Russia-Ukraine war, alongside VOICE Co-Founder and Executive Director Mendy Marsh, Assessment Ukraine Team Member Yana Tovpeko, and Women’s Rights Ukraine Crisis Response Team Member Michelle Girard.
VOICE is a feminist organization and disruptor in the humanitarian aid establishment, focused on the unique needs of women and girls and members of the LGBTQ+ community in modern-day conflicts and crises.
In the episode, Mendy, Yana, and Michelle share their on-the-ground perspectives of the conflict in Ukraine, their analysis of what needs to be done at a broader level to respect and protect women and girls, and their own strategies for coping with trauma and building healing.
The Airbnb of file storage. That’s how Marta Belcher—who is the President and Chair of the Filecoin Foundation, the General Counsel at Protocol Labs, and Special Counsel at Electronic Frontier Foundation— describes Filecoin. As a leading voice in civil liberties and blockchain law, Marta is consistently working to find new and innovative ways to bring the blockchain and the next generation of the internet to the forefront of the policy agenda. What’s next in the policy arena for Filecoin? Marta shares Filecoin’s top policy priorities and how she is working to achieve them. Tune in as Marta joins hosts Dee Martin and Anne Termine to explain the overlap of law and regulation with the evolution of the blockchain, cryptocurrency, and the decentralized web, along with her vision for preserving humanity’s most important information in a decentralized world. Don’t miss out on this new episode of the Madam Policy Podcast with Marta Belcher, a trailblazer in the blockchain legal space.
An early morning idea, four women pursing doctorate degrees, and an evening meeting in a D.C. bookstore … want to know how this sequence of events led to the creation of a program that has helped over 100 women of color earn higher education degrees? Tune in for the latest episode of the Madam Policy Podcast to hear from Dr. Shireen Lewis, Executive Director of EduSeed and Founder of EduSeed’s SisterMentors Program. Shireen joined hosts Dee Martin and Rachael Marsh to discuss the origin story of SisterMentors, the successes of the program, and how the organization will celebrate its 25th anniversary in September. The episode also features discussion of how Shireen’s Trinidadian upbringing has influenced her views, what sparked her passion for education, and details of her writing career, including her upcoming book. Don’t miss out on this episode with champion of education equity, Dr. Shireen Lewis.
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.
It all started at 4am with the idea of celebrating how women shape policy every day in every way. This week, we’re sitting down with Madam Policy creator and host Dee Martin on this special 50th episode of Madam Policy! We have hosted current and former White House officials, CEOS and industry leaders, Congresswomen, news anchors, and all-around history makers. Dee has a long history of advocating for women and is deeply committed to her clients and her work. From co-founding Minute Mentoring, a women’s leadership program, to representing clients before the U.S. Congress, to serving on non-profit boards of women’s rights organizations, to her work with civil rights leaders like Dolores Huerta, Dee’s commitment to client service and sharing the wisdom of successful women is unparalleled. To commemorate the 50th episode of the podcast, co-hosts Yasmin Nelson, Caitlin Sickles, and Tarena Lofton chat with Dee about her twenty plus years of experience advocating in the corporate and non-profit spaces, her work amplifying women’s voices, and the secret to the success behind Madam Policy. Hint: a phenomenal team!
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.
U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16) uses her voice to promote democracy, stop injustice, and advocate for change. Join hosts Dee Martin, Caitlin Sickles, and Claire Cahoon for this special episode as they chat with trailblazer and history creator Representative Escobar, the first woman elected to represent Texas 16 and the first of two Latinas from Texas to serve in the U.S. Congress. Since taking office in 2019, Representative Escobar has hit the ground running, working to resolve some of the most complicated issues currently facing Americans. But her fight on these issues, and for her community, did not start in Congress. A third-generation El Pasoan, the Congresswoman has a record of working tirelessly to find solutions for tackling issues in her community surrounding healthcare, immigration, and gun safety. Learn more about how she is using her platform to inspire the next generation of leaders, shape policy, and create history.
“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.
“Seize this moment to turn up for those who turned out for you.” Those are the words of Danielle Atkinson, Mothering Justice Founder and National Executive Director, to Senators urging them to vote in support of paid family and medical leave. A tireless advocate, Danielle leads the fight to make sure mothers have access to voting, receive paid family and medical leave, and are paid an increased minimum wage. Join hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson as Danielle shares her story about the origin of Mothering Justice—hint: Danielle’s lived experience of navigating the healthcare system and managing her work life during the birth of her first child is a big part of it! Hear more about Mothering Justice, Danielle’s grassroots policy advocacy organization that provides mothers of color in America with the resources and tools to use their power to make equitable changes in policy in this new episode of Madam Policy.
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.
Ready or not, cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies are here, and they are the hot topics among policy leaders. What’s on the policy horizon? Kristin Smith, Executive Director of the Blockchain Association, shares five policy priorities with hosts Dee Martin and Anne Termine. As the leading voice for the blockchain industry, Kristin is constantly working on cultivating the right mix of policies so blockchain networks can truly thrive. Having just spoken at the CES conference, Kristin shares her extensive knowledge on digital assets, NFTs, decentralized finance, and the impact of the infrastructure bill on crypto tax treatment. Also hear about Kristin’s pathway from Capitol Hill staffer to Executive Director for life lessons you won’t want to miss! Never a dull moment with this Fortune 40 Under 40 honoree who is widely-recognized for her lobbying prowess and tech expertise, Kristin Smith.
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.
What happens when impossibility walks into the room? That’s the question Vice President of Omidyar Network Michelle Jawando asks daily. Tackling intractable, complex social challenges is her job, and she loves it. For as long as she can remember, Michele has intentionally mentored, taught, and created pathways for the women following in her footsteps. As Senior Advisor to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Michelle became famous for her mentoring walks around Capitol Hill—a skill she learned from the amazing women in her family, like her aunt, Dame Lois Browne-Evans. Hear from Michele how Dame Browne-Evans, Bermuda’s first Black woman lawyer who also served as Attorney General, reinforced Michele’s commitment to community and equality. Join hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson as they chat with Michele about creating diverse spaces, mentoring the next generation, modernizing global philanthropy, and changing impossible to possible.
Former Democratic National Committee spokesperson Xochitl Hinojosa helped rebuild the Democratic Party; led the communications strategy around the 2020 Democratic presidential nominating process; and was a spokesperson for the party during the General Election. A pro at delivering complex information effectively and deftly shaping policy, DNC Chair and Labor Secretary Tom Perez recognized Xochitl as a “strategic, tenacious leader who was indispensable to the DNC’s success.” Xochitl tells listeners about her passion for policy, that started at a young age as a member of a family who is heavily involved in Texas state politics. Hosts Dee Martin, Yasmin Nelson and Carolyn Spector dive into Xochitl’s background and how she is continuing to shape policy as a managing director at Bully Pulpit Interactive. Xochitl also shares some advice that younger communications professionals won’t want to miss!
Serena Rwejuna is a leader. Whether through her service as Calvary Women’s Services Board President, her recent ascension to partnership at White & Case LLP, or her dedication to her extensive network of young women leaders, Serena leads by example and paves the way for others. Join hosts Dee Martin, Yasmin Nelson and Caitlin Sickles as they chat about the importance of representation in the legal space; how to recruit and retain diverse talent; and the importance of perseverance in accomplishing goals. Also, you won’t want to miss the story of how Dee recruited Serena to the Calvary Board…and Caitlin…and likely Yasmin! All share Calvary’s mission of providing housing, health education, and employment programs to help empower women experiencing homelessness in Washington, D.C. What’s next for Serena at the helm of Calvary? Tune in and find out about some exciting upcoming events and opportunities! This episode is the perfect way to kick off 2022! Don’t miss out!
Returning to work after having children opened Lori Mihalich-Levin’s eyes to the complexity of returning to work and the need for resources to ease that transition—for new parents and employers. Filling that void, Lori authored the bestselling book Back to Work After Baby: How to Plan and Navigate a Mindful Return from Maternity Leave; co-hosts the Parents at Work Podcast, and founded Mindful Return—a movement that helps new parents navigate parenthood and the return to work after parental leave. Join hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson as they dive into what drives Lori’s passion to empower new working parents. This episode includes a discussion on parental leave in the United States; how to tackle the guilt that parents often face while trying to balance parthood and working; why taking steps to make your passions a reality is important; and how she is equipping parents with the tools they need to shape parental polices at their workplace. Also, Lori—who recently became a teacher on the Insight Timer app—gives some tips on how to incorporate meditation into our daily lives. This episode comes just in time for you to share some of Lori’s products to a new parent for the holiday season!
Ilhaam “Illy” Jaffer is a woman on a mission: to lead the fight for a world without cancer. Illy, a savvy political veteran, is powerful, fearless, and tenacious. As Director of Federal Government Relations for the American Cancer Society, Illy amplifies the voices of cancer patients, shapes health policy, and helps ensure equity in the distribution of funds, inclusion in studies, and more. In a conversation led by hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson, Illy discusses how her work in federal and state politics helped make her a strong advocate for the important work of the ACS. She also dives into women’s health, discussing reproductive rights and the importance of not dismissing early signs of illness, sharing her scary journey of being diagnosed with Lyme Disease. Illy leaves listeners with advice to trust your instinct, believe in your abilities, and validate yourself.
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) delivers affordable, reliable, and clean natural gas service to nearly 22 million customers, making it the nation’s largest natural gas utility. Leading the way, is Maryam Brown, President of SoCalGas. Maryam joined hosts Dee Martin and Christine Wyman to discuss SoCalGas’ role in the energy transition, including the Company’s recently-released study, The Role of Clean Fuels and Gas Infrastructure in Achieving California’s Net-Zero Climate Goal. Maryam also discusses the importance of leading with intention; creating pathways to employment in the gas industry through internships; and why she believes that hard work always prevails. Also, Maryam shares some lessons from the kitchen including how cooking has helped to strengthen her relationships with some important women in her life. This is an episode that you don’t want to miss!
Ninety years ago, there were more than a hundred Black owned banks, today there are only twenty. Nicole A. Elam, Esq., President and CEO of the National Bankers Association (NBA), is dedicating her career to making the financial services community more inclusive through increasing business opportunities, granting access to capital, and eliminating barriers for minority depository institutions. After starting her career in civil rights advocacy, she found a passion for helping underrepresented communities, which ultimately put her on a path towards public policy. Now, as a voice for change and an advocate for policy, Nicole’s realm of experiences creates a full-circle moment making her uniquely positioned for her role. As a leader with so much responsibility, she offers advice on keeping a balance by staying present and keeping your priorities aligned with your passions.
Alyssa Farah is all communication, all the time. A dedicated senior government official, Alyssa spent over a decade breaking down complex issues—like COVID-19 and the war in Afghanistan—and communicating about them clearly for the American public. Having served as the White House Director of Strategic Communications, the youngest-ever Press Secretary for the Department of Defense, and the Press Secretary for the Vice President of the U.S., Alyssa is a go-to pro for harnessing the power of the podium. And that’s not lost on the private sector, where Alyssa recently served as a guest co-host on “The View” and provides keen political insight and analysis for major media outlets. Join hosts Dee Martin and Rebecca Brown as they discuss Alyssa’s career in government and shaping policy through strategic communications. Also hear about why Alyssa attributes a significant portion of her success to being a high school and college debater (Hint: Knowledge is power!). Plus, you don’t want to miss a sneak peek into what’s next for Alyssa!
Like what you heard in this episode of Madam Policy featuring Alyssa Farah? Check out some of our other episodes covering similar topics.
- Dana Perino: Policy Powerhouse, Media Maven, Idea Innovator
- Beverly Kirk: Creating a Platform for Women Policy Experts
- Kelsey Knight: Supporting Virtual Connection During a Pandemic at Zoom
We’re thankful for Civil Rights leaders who risked their lives in the fight for equality and those who continue the fight today. This week’s guest, Paula Young Shelton, is the author of the award-winning Child of the Civil Rights Movement and an educator and Author-in-Residence at Georgetown Day School. The daughter of Civil Rights activist Andrew Young, Paula grew up learning directly from Civil Rights giants like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Representative John Lewis. Now, Paula continues to carry the torch for creating change by writing, teaching and speaking about equality and justice. In this episode you will hear how social media affects activism; what’s next for Paula in the fight for equality; and the evolution of the role of women in advocacy. Paula also shares details about her new book, which is coming soon! Finally, listeners get to hear the true impact of Paula’s teachings as former student, Anjali Martin-Shanker, joins the conversation as a special guest host. Anjali’s conversation with Paula creates a full circle moment as the two share details about how Paula’s lessons are relevant to events that are happening today. This special episode is hosted by Dee Martin, Yasmin Nelson and Anjali Martin-Shanker.
FBI Special Agents put their lives on the line every day protecting our nation, and the FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) represents those Agents and honors their service. In a special episode of Madam Policy, host Dee Martin spoke to Jean O’Connor and Jerri Williams, both of whom served our nation as FBI Agents and continue to serve the nation, the FBI, and the families of FBI Agents in their post-retirement careers. This week at the G-Man Honors: A Salute to FBI Heroes, FBIAA will honor Jerri with its Distinguished Service Award. Jerri highlights the FBI’s mission through her podcast, FBI Retired Case File Review, her books and her blogposts, providing authentic portrayals of the FBI and the important work of Agents. This annual fundraising event benefits the two FBIAA charities the Memorial College Fund and the Membership Assistance Fund. In this episode, Jean, who now serves as the Executive Director for the FBIAA, gives listeners a personal account of how her work ties into the significance of remembrance and honoring our country’s service members, especially on the 20th anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. Don’t miss this important and compelling episode!
Who rules Rules? Kim Corbin, that’s who. After landing a congressional internship during college, Kim fell in love with Capitol Hill and has dedicated her professional career to creating life-changing policy. Today, from her office in the U.S. Capitol, Kim is the Senior Advisor for the powerful House Rules Committee. In this episode you will hear why Kim believes that mentorship is important and how she uses her knowledge to serve as a sponsor for many young professionals; predictions for the budget reconciliation package; advice that she would give to young women about navigating a career in politics; and more! Pro tip: grab a pen and paper for notes because Kim shares amazing advice during this episode!
- This episode was recorded on October 6, 2021.
As a former FBI Special Agent who is now a CNN Legal and National Security Analyst, Senior Lecturer at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, attorney, and prolific writer, Asha Rangappa is a trusted and highly sought-after voice in the national security arena. Join hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson as they chat with Asha about her exciting FBI career, how she manages the responsibility of her large social media presence, and how she uses her powerful voice to help amplify and inform others. Asha also shares the story of how she made history by becoming one of the first Indian American women to graduate from Quantico and how that almost didn’t happen. You don’t want to miss this episode!
Carla Frisch is passionate about climate policy. A ten-year veteran of the Department of Energy, Carla brought this passion home when she rejoined the Department earlier this year as Acting Executive Director of the Office of Policy. Carla joined hosts Dee Martin and Christine Wyman on Madam Policy to discuss all things climate, both professionally and personally. In this episode you will hear: how national climate targets are driving DOE’s comprehensive and all-in approach to climate; how clean energy technology and investments can drive the U.S. economy; the importance of climate provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework and reconciliation process; and Carla’s take on the value of staying true to your career goals and path. A must listen in advance of COP-26!
Brooke Ringel has mastered the art of using law, policy and data analysis to become a powerhouse in international trade law. Brooke, a partner at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, joined hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson on Madam Policy for a deep-dive into her work as an international trade attorney. In this episode you will hear: how Covid has impacted international trade and how Brooke is adjusting to better serve her clients; details about her journey to becoming an international trade attorney, and about her involvement with the Association of Women in International Trade (WIIT) and the WITT Trust. Brooke also shares “contrarian” advice to achieving work-life balance. This is an episode that you won’t want to miss!
The Ascend Fund’s Abbie Hodgson set an aggressive goal: achieve gender parity in U.S. politics by 2050. That’s two decades earlier than if we maintained the current rate of electing women. Tune in to hear the plan! In a conversation led by hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson, Abbie also shares details about her journey running for office and how her experiences in a male-dominated field inspired her to build a pathway for women in politics. Believing diversity makes democracy stronger, Abbie is committed to recruiting more women run for office regardless of party affiliation. She uses the advice she would tell her younger self to inspire others—know your values, know your worth, and let your values guide your work!
To learn more about the show and send suggestions for future topics and guests, follow us on Twitter: @MadamPolicy
A text from a good friend sparked this week’s guest to do what she describes as the bravest thing she’s ever done: run for Congress. Now, U.S. Representative Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA) uses her medical degree to shape healthcare policy as a Member of Congress. Join hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson as they talk about creating history with the nation’s first pediatrician elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Learn more about Rep. Schrier’s unique journey to Congress and how she’s using her platform to help prevent suicide, combat wildfires, recover economically from COVID, and much more! Her advice: Be brave and use your unique skills to address complex problems!
Wondering what’s happening legally on the restrictive state abortion bans in Texas and Mississippi? Wondering if there will be any political fallout? Join hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson for a special episode of Madam Policy featuring Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. Skye is an attorney and a frontline advocate and champion for equality. She chats with Madam Policy about the legal battles in Texas and Mississippi, the important role of data and evidence in the judicial process, and shares what’s next for Democracy Forward. Hint: it includes the continued fight for justice! Skye shares some great advice that she would give to her 24-year-old self. Don’t miss out!
To learn more about the show and send suggestions for future topics and guests, follow us on Twitter: @MadamPolicy
Join hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson for the latest episode of Madam Policy featuring Lauren Baer! As Managing Partner of Arena, Lauren leads and trains the next generation of female, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ campaign staff and political candidates. In this week’s episode, you will hear more about her work at Arena; what she learned from her prior experience as a senior advisor to two secretaries of State and as a candidate for U.S. Congress; why it’s important to own your identity; and how she is using her platform to promote representation and diversity in the political arena!
Join hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson for a new episode of Madam Policy featuring Dr. Tarika Barrett! As CEO of Girls Who Code, Dr. Barrett leads the mission of inspiring more girls to become computer scientists and engineers. To date, 450,000 girls have gone through Girls Who Code programs. In this episode, you will hear more about Dr. Barrett’s meeting with President Biden discussing improving the nation’s cybersecurity; the work of Girls Who Code to close the gender gap in tech; and how she is using her platform to create the diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech field. If you can see it, you can be it!
Join us for a special episode of Madam Policy where your hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson are joined by Gina McCarthy, the first National Climate Advisor for the White House and Former EPA Administrator for President Obama. Advisor McCarthy discusses how she defines "success" when addressing an issue as big as climate change, why she believes the Biden Administration's Build Back Better plan is an investment in the future, goals for infrastructure in the Black community, and the role she believes hydrogen plays in addressing climate change.
In this special episode of Madam Policy, you’ll hear the latest news on COVID-19 and the Biden-Harris administration’s “Path Out Of The Pandemic” action plan—straight from the White House. In a conversation led by your hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson, Chair to the White House COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, discusses how she is using her role and expertise to shape policy and create history. Topics include: an overview of what is included President Biden's 6-point COVID-19 plan, why representation matters in health care, how Dr. Nunez-Smith's upbringing in the U.S. Virgin Islands sparked her dedication to addressing inequities in health care, and more!
Powerhouse Dana Perino has an idea a minute and has always shaped policy and created history. Your hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles talk with Dana about her barrier-breaking work as White House press secretary—on the frontlines explaining policy—and her groundbreaking work now as Anchor of America’s Newsroom and Co-Host of “The Five” at Fox News Channel—analyzing policy for millions of viewers. Dana shared lessons she learned during her time as Press Secretary for George W. Bush, the importance of having a regimented schedule, why she believes you should always be reading, and what she enjoys about her successful podcast “Everything Will be Okay.”
This week, hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles are joined by Laura Cox Kaplan, the creator and host of the She Said, She Said podcast. Topics include: what has changed for the She Said, She Said podcast during the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of generosity in leadership, and insights into how to not let fear slow her down.
Your hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles are joined by Beverly Kirk, a fellow and director for outreach in the CSIS International Security Program and director of the CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative. Topics include: the role of social media and the internet in working with women entrepreneurs and women leaders around the world, how Beverly is using the skills that she learned as a journalist in her current roles, and the importance of normalizing women as policy experts in foreign policy, national security, international business, and development. Also, Beverly shares the advice that people should shed their fear of failure, and instead they should fail fast and fail forward.
This week, your hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson are joined by Parker Poling, a Partner at Harbinger Strategies, to discuss how she became a politics and policy powerhouse and how she is using her previous experience in her new role. Topics include: how her plans to practice as a “real lawyer” got derailed, her career on Capitol Hill and her former role as Executive Director for NRCC, and insight into how she balances a busy work schedule and home life.
This week, your hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson are joined by Christina Henderson, who was raised on the principle that your zip code should not determine your opportunity for success. Now, as DC Councilmember, At-Large, she is using her voice to create change. Topics include: how to use your voice to make sure everyone has a seat at the table, how to advocate for constituents, and how a shift in mindset can make policymakers more effective.
This week, your hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson are joined by Tasha Cole, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Diversity Officer at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Topics include: a dive into Tasha’s role at the DCCC, political campaigning in the virtual world, the skills she learned during her time as a documentarian and a political reporter, and the importance of claiming credit when it’s due.
Your hosts Dee Martin and Rebecca Brown are joined this week by Kelsey Knight, Industries PR Lead at Zoom. Topics include: Zoom’s support of business, education, and family connection during the pandemic, Kelsey’s time as the Communications Director for the Department of Energy, and how sticking to the 3C's - confidence, constant evolution, and charm - has helped her navigate the policy arena.
Your hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson are joined this week by Charlotte Clymer, an outspoken activist for the LGBTQ+ community, feminism, and veterans issues. Topics include: Charlotte's work advocating for trans people in the US Military, the recent extension of protections for gay and trans students under Title IX, a dive into "woke" culture, her popular column "Charlotte's Web Thoughts," and more.
This week, your hosts Dee Martin and Christine Wyman lead a riveting conversation with Dr. Darian McBain, the Global Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Thai Union. Topics include: championing ocean sustainability, fighting for human rights in the world of international fishing, building partnerships to make a difference across an industry, and more.
This week, we're joined by Victoria Espinel, President and CEO of BSA, the Software Alliance. Your hosts Dee Martin and Caitlin Sickles lead a discussion on Victoria's legacy of advocacy and mentorship, specifically her work at BSA to minimize the risk of bias in AI, the growing role of software and broadband access in all areas of life and how the pandemic impacted that role, her involvement with Girls Who Code and their valuable work, and much more.
For our inaugural episode, it's an honor to host Dolores Huerta, American labor leader and civil rights activist, and Camila Chavez, Executive Director of the Dolores Huerta Foundation. Your hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson lead this discussion on intergenerational organizing, Dolores' and Camila's legacy of empowered communities, and much more.
Welcome to Madam Policy, a podcast by, about and for women shaping policy and creating history. Tune in to this trailer to meet show host Dee Martin, a life-long organizer and advocate, and an all-women powerhouse team of Dee’s co-hosts and colleagues in Bracewell LLP’s Washington, DC-based Policy Resolution Group. The group discusses the vision for the show and the extraordinary women making change who will join as guests.
To learn more about the show and send suggestions for future topics and guests, follow us on Twitter: @MadamPolicy