Beyond Resistance Pod

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  • Politics

Beyond Resistance: Local politics and how to build Blue Power in a Red Community and Start Winning! With Jennifer Austin and Sarah Schulz

  1. 2d ago

    Ep. 98: Candidate Time Is Precious. Stop Wasting It.

    What’s the most valuable resource in a political campaign? Hint: It’s not money. It’s candidate time. This week on Beyond Resistance, Jennifer and Sarah dive into one of the biggest mistakes campaigns make: spending precious hours on activities that feel productive but don't actually move votes, build relationships, or raise meaningful amounts of money. From the infamous ritual of fundraising "call time" to the power of community-based organizing, they break down why authentic relationships consistently outperform cold calls and cookie-cutter campaign tactics. If you've ever wondered why some candidates seem to be everywhere at once while others disappear into spreadsheets and Zoom meetings, this episode is for you. Along the way, they talk about Michigan's high-profile U.S. Senate race, laugh about a debate that featured one candidate and one very empty podium, take a trip down organizing memory lane, and share lessons learned from years of grassroots campaigning in deep-red territory. You'll hear practical ideas for: Building relationships instead of transaction listsRaising money without living on the phoneCreating meaningful voter conversationsMaking the most of limited campaign timeThinking long-term about building blue powerPlus, Sarah shares a little campaign secret: despite raising hundreds of thousands of dollars during her campaigns, she never bought into the traditional call-time playbook. The results might surprise you. If you're organizing, running for office, volunteering, or just trying to turn your corner of the map a little bluer, this episode is packed with hard-won lessons and a few laughs along the way. 📘 Grab our Blueprint for Building Blue Power: https://beyondresistancepod.com/the-blueprint-1 ⭐ If you enjoy the show, subscribe, follow, and leave a 5-star review. It helps more people discover the podcast and helps us continue building blue power in red communities.

  2. Sep 24

    Ep. 97: The Wild, Wild West of Content Creation with Sara Wiles

    Who needs cable news when your political analysis comes with relatable stories, common sense, and a healthy dose of "what does this actually mean for my life?" 🤷‍♀️ This week on Beyond Resistance, Jennifer and Sarah sit down with Florida-based political content creator and activist Sara Wiles to talk about the growing influence of creators in politics, why storytelling matters more than policy jargon, and how social media can be both a dumpster fire and a powerful tool for building democracy. From living in a deep red state to building a large online audience, Sara shares how she helps people cut through misinformation, understand what's happening in politics, and find meaningful ways to take action. The conversation dives into the future of political engagement, the opportunities Democrats are missing online, and why authentic human stories connect with people far more than talking points ever will. They also tackle the challenges of content creation, the importance of community, and the reality that most political creators are running on passion, caffeine, and pure stubborn determination. Plus, Sara shares some of the best advice we've ever heard for people who want to get involved but aren't sure where to start! If you've ever wondered how to stay informed without losing your mind, how creators are reshaping political conversations, or how ordinary people can make an extraordinary impact, this episode is for you. Connect with Sara Wiles 📱 Instagram: @sara_wiles 🔗 YouTube, Substack, and more: Find all her links through her Instagram profile. And don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and keep building blue power in your community. 💙

  3. Sep 17

    Ep. 96: Community Building: The Ultimate Cheat Code for Organizers

    This week on Beyond Resistance, Sarah and Jennifer dive into one of their favorite topics: community building, and why it beats transactional politics every single time. Drawing from years of organizing, they unpack how real relationships, not just voter lists and door-knocking quotas, are what actually turn red communities blue. From campaign fundraising and volunteer recruitment to leadership development and running for office, this episode explores the difference between asking people to complete a task and inviting them to join a movement. The hosts share stories from their own organizing journeys, including how community-first organizing helped flip Midland from a deep-red stronghold into a blue community. They also get personal, reflecting on friendship, loss, and the unexpected connections that grow when you invest in people instead of transactions. Spoiler alert: community building is about a lot more than winning elections. It is about creating a support system, finding purpose, and building something that lasts. If you've ever wondered how to start building power where you live, this episode is packed with practical wisdom, a few laughs, and some hard-earned lessons from the trenches. 📘 Check out our Blueprint for Building Blue Power and learn how to start organizing in your own community: https://beyondresistancepod.com/the-blueprint-1 ⭐ Love the show? Help us fight the algorithm overlords! Subscribe, follow, and leave us a 5-star review wherever you listen. Every review boosts our visibility and helps more people discover the tools they need to build blue power and start winning. #BeyondResistance #CommunityBuilding #BluePower #GrassrootsOrganizing #StartWinning

  4. Sep 15

    Ep. 95: Care Loudly, Fight Smart: Aftyn Behn’s Tennessee Playbook

    This week on Beyond Resistance, we sit down with Rep. Aftyn Behn, Tennessee State Representative, organizer, activist, and all-around professional needle mover. From getting arrested while standing up to corrupt politicians to flipping the script on what winning looks like in deep red territory, Aftyn brings the kind of energy that makes you want to knock a few doors and maybe start a movement before lunch. We dig into why local organizing still matters, how policy campaigns like Pot for Potholes, End the Grocery Tax, and Children Over Checks are changing the conversation in Tennessee, and why "just go vote" is not a strategy. Aftyn shares hard-earned lessons about building coalitions, meeting people where they are, and creating permission structures for voters to think differently. We also talk about grief, legacy, and what it means to "care loudly" in a political moment that often rewards cynicism. Inspired by the recent loss of beloved community volunteer Gisela Bailey, this conversation is a reminder that real change is built by everyday people who keep showing up. Favorite quote: "Politics is about planting seeds that you may never see grow." If you're looking for a dose of hope, honesty, and practical organizing wisdom with just the right amount of righteous outrage, this episode's for you. 🔗 Learn more about Aftyn and her campaigns: https://www.aftynbehn.com/ #BeyondResistance #Organizing #TennesseePolitics #CareLoudly #BlueInRedPlaces #PotForPotholes #EndTheGroceryTax

  5. Sep 8

    Ep. 94: Building Blue Power One Weird Volunteer Skill at a Time

    Election Day is coming fast, and if you're a local organizer, candidate, volunteer, or party leader, it's officially go-time. In this episode, Jennifer and Sarah are back together in their brand-new podcast studio (finally!) and diving into what grassroots organizers should be focused on with just weeks left before the election. From volunteer recruitment and leadership transitions to slate cards, campaign strategy, and avoiding organizer burnout, they break down the practical lessons they've learned from flipping Midland from red to blue. You'll hear why finding a volunteer's "best magic" matters, how one home-cooked meal can be as valuable as knocking doors, and why campaigns need to stop treating every community the same. Also: house parties, handwritten postcards, organizational growing pains, and a reminder that candidate time is the most precious resource in politics. Plus, Jennifer and Sarah give listeners a tour of their shiny new studio and debate the true political significance of coffee mugs that say "Boss Lady" and "Mich-A-Gangster." Important democracy stuff. ☕😂 If you're wondering what you should be doing right now to help Democrats win locally, this episode is your election-season playbook. Because building blue power isn't magic. It's planning, people, and a whole lot of organizing. 💙🚪📋 #BeyondResistance #BuildBluePower #GrassrootsOrganizing #ElectionSeason #Democrats #VolunteerPower #PoliticalPodcast

  6. Sep 1

    Ep. 93: From Seattle to Swing States: Building People Power

    What happens when hope meets hustle? This week on Beyond Resistance, Jennifer sits down with Charles Douglas, Executive Director of Common Power, for a conversation about building real people power, one door knock at a time. From training first-time volunteers to sending teams into battleground states, Charles explains why elections are won by relationships, not just ads and algorithms. The conversation dives into the power of cross-generational organizing, lessons from the Civil Rights Movement, why young leaders are essential to the future of democracy, and how a single conversation at the door can change more than a vote. Jennifer and Charles also get real about voter frustration, the people politics leaves behind, and why many communities are still waiting for leaders to deliver meaningful change. Despite the challenges, this episode is packed with optimism, practical advice, and a reminder that democracy isn't a spectator sport. And yes, they even debate their walk-up songs. Because if you're going to save democracy, you might as well have a playlist. Walk-Up Songs: 🎶 Jennifer Austin: Esme Rose's Fk Being a Princess 🎶 Charles Douglas: Kendrick Lamar's Allright If you've ever said, "I want to help, but I don't know where to start," this episode is for you. Learn more about Common Power: 🌐 https://www.commonpower.org 📱 Download the Common Power Action app to find volunteer opportunities and training programs. Beyond Resistance shares hard-won insights to build blue power in red communities and start winning. Let's get to work. 💙

  7. Aug 27

    Ep.92: Rural Strong, Not Rural Forgotten with Teresa Purcell

    What if the problem isn't that rural America left Democrats... but that Democrats left rural America? 🔥 This week Jennifer sits down with Teresa Purcell, founder of the Rural Strong Network, to talk about why rural communities feel ignored, misunderstood, and way too often taken for granted. Teresa has spent decades organizing, campaigning, and building power in communities that political consultants usually fly over. They dive into: Why "rural voters" are actually people with hopes, dreams, and lives beyond election dayThe biggest mistakes Democrats make when talking to rural communitiesWhy local candidates can create "reverse coattails" and boost turnout up and down the ballotHow to stop treating politics like a transaction and start building real relationshipsWhy uncontested races are breaking our democracyThe surprising power of showing up, listening, and asking better questions Plus, Teresa shares why she thinks we've been fighting the wrong battles, why we need more candidates from all backgrounds, and what it takes to build durable majorities that actually improve people's lives. And because this is Beyond Resistance, the episode wraps up with a campfire dream team featuring Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and the new Pope. No big deal. 🔥 Want to get involved? Learn more about the Rural Strong Network, sign up for trainings, connect with other community leaders, or host a Rural Strong gathering at: 👉 https://ruralstrong.us If you care about rural communities, stronger local leadership, and building power where others aren't looking, this is an episode you won't want to miss. 🎙️🌾💙

  8. Aug 21

    Ep. 91: Don't Stop Believin': Vote Your Heart, Then Go Win

    The primaries are (mostly) in the rearview mirror, and Jennifer and Sarah are back from vacation, camping, and political doom-scrolling to unpack what it all means. This episode starts with a love letter to Michigan's unofficial anthem, Don't Stop Believin', and why Abdul El-Sayed's post-primary victory ad hit every emotional button available. Hope? Check. Michigan pride? Check. Jennifer and Sarah accidentally appearing in the ad? Also check. The conversation dives into what primary results in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and beyond tell us about the Democratic Party. Is the party moving progressive? Moderate? Somewhere in between? The answer might be: yes. The hosts make the case for a true "big tent" party where bold ideas, practical governance, urban voices, and rural perspectives all have a seat at the table. They also tackle a favorite post-primary pastime: Democrats arguing about the primary after it's already over. Jennifer and Sarah explain why healthy debate matters before the vote, but unity matters after it. Translation: do you want to be right, or do you want to win? Plus: Abdul El-Sayed's path to the general electionWhy "electability" is everyone's least favorite buzzwordWhat Wisconsin's razor-thin primary tells usAmy Klobuchar, Peggy Flanagan, and the future of Democratic leadershipVIP election night adventures featuring standing-room-only C-SPAN and questionable hummus logisticsJennifer's latest self-care strategy: aggressively sorting things in mobile games The primaries may be ending, but the real work is just beginning. Take a deep breath, hold on, and let's get to work. #Podcast #Michigan #Primaries #Unity #Democrat

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About

Beyond Resistance: Local politics and how to build Blue Power in a Red Community and Start Winning! With Jennifer Austin and Sarah Schulz

Information

  • Creator
    beyondresistancepod
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 beyondresistancepod
  • Show Website
    Beyond Resistance Pod

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