ShameFree Civics

ShameFree Civics (TM) is hosted by Ann Heilman and Pam McBride, a pair of devoted U.S. Constitution fans who've both happily called multiple different regions of the U.S. home. Ann and Pam sometimes disagree on policy, but both believe all Americans are entitled to understand and take part in their local, state and national governance institutions, without needing an advanced degree to do it.

ShameFree Civics is your no-judgments, non-partisan, mostly upbeat, "Owner's Manual" to law, government and citizenship ("civics") in the U.S. It's the place to get answers to all your questions about how law and government work in America, and to get the tools to speak up and participate effectively and constructively whether you need a local building permit or want your U.S. Senator to represent your interests. As we address day to day concerns we'll see how our Constitutional structures --at the national and state levels-- were designed to serve and protect all of us, even when our interests and ideologies deeply conflict. Especially then.

Pam McBride is a mom, former lawyer, civil liberties advocate, and business strategist in the DC metro area, while Ann Heilman is a mom, former lawyer, certified high school government teacher, one-time Young Republicans club president, education coach, AND working farmer from South Carolina (she doesn't sleep a lot). We met in Chicago a really long time ago and, despite having almost nothing in common politically, we bonded over a love of the outdoors, an honest argument, sportsmanship and, as it turned out, good whisky. We haven't lived within 500 miles of each other since, but we're never at a loss for something to talk about, especially when it comes to this country, which we both love to the point of being a little embarrassing.

We'll take your questions and get you non-partisan, user-friendly answers to the things that confuse or frustrate you about law and government issues. We'll draw a bit on our own pretty decent knowledge of law and government, and more on insights and advice from the experts we interview on your behalf. We hope some of those experts will include some old friends of ours who are doing cool things in government, business and citizen advocacy roles (fingers crossed!). We're also not above occasionally dragging in our Gen Z relatives to get their perspectives and advice. So we're looking forward to a lot of great conversations about operating America, and we hope you'll grab your coffee, join in and have a few laughs while we learn!

Still wondering if the show is for you? Well,

Are you exhausted by seemingly EVERYTHING resulting in scorched-earth partisanship, hyped-up cultural animosities, and personal attacks on people who raise honest objections or concerns--whether it's in Washington, the state legislature or the local PTA?

Do you feel like you should know the difference between a "real democracy" and America's federal constitutional representative republic--but you only "kind of-sort of" know, because you haven't had a civics class since the 4th grade?

Are you frustrated by the laws that get passed (or don't get passed) in your town or county, but you don't know who to complain to or how you can change things?

Have you actually wondered if "democracy even matters", since government at the U.S. national level maybe hasn't been working very well for you over the last couple of decades? (And have you wondered who it might benefit for U.S. citizens to conclude that they don't care about democracy?)

Do you hesitate to speak up when people are talking about national or state politics--even if you think what's being said isn't true--because you don't exactly know the context, and you're worried that you'll be embarrassed, or even worse, misinterpreted, labelled or even shamed?

Do you want to know how to separate fact from interpretation, opinion, spin, bias, misrepresentation or just plain made-up content by disinformation...