Built By Us

Democracy North Carolina
  • 4.7 (14)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Built By Us Media spotlights movement makers and shakers across North Carolina. Hosts Kai and Joselle sit down with organizers, activists, and working-class people who are fighting for justice, building power, and making sure our voices aren't just heard, but centered. Every episode connects you with someone who's putting in work for liberation, and gives you the tools to join them. Because the North Carolina we deserve is being built by us.  Learn more at democracync.org!

  1. 4D AGO

    The Fight for Campus Voting at NC A&T

    On January 13th, 2025, the North Carolina State Board of Elections voted 3-2 along party lines to eliminate campus polling sites for the 2026 primary, including at North Carolina A&T State University, the nation's largest public HBCU. This isn't about convenience. This is a deliberate pattern of making it harder for young Black voters to participate in democracy. In this episode of Built by Us, host Kai McNeil sits down with Shia Rozier, co-lead of the Civic Engagement Coalition at NC A&T. Shia was there when dozens of students filled the meeting room to capacity, were denied the right to give public comment, and watched as board members threatened to call Capitol Police simply for asking why their polling site wasn't included in the plan. Shia explains why the Dudley Building site matters: it's the most-used early-voting site for voters ages 18-25 in Guilford County. With freshmen not allowed to have cars on campus, it's not just convenient, it's required for democratic participation. The 3,000 students who vote there won't just go to another polling site. Those votes will disappear. But A&T students have a legacy of resistance, from the Greensboro Four in 1960 to the fight against gerrymandering in 2016. This generation grew up with Black Lives Matter, witnessed George Floyd's death online, and learned about justice earlier than generations before them. As Shia makes clear, this decision hasn't silenced them. It's fueled the fire. Support Democracy NC's work at demnc.co/donate and connect with us on Bluesky, Threads, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Support the show Follow us on all your favorite platforms! Instagram: @democracync TikTok: @democracync Threads: @democracync Bluesky: @democracync Facebook: @DemocracyNorthCarolina Youtube: @DemocracyNorthCarolina

    18 min
  2. Plugged In Pissed Off: New Year, New Midterms

    FEB 4

    Plugged In Pissed Off: New Year, New Midterms

    In this episode, Joselle and Beatrice delve into the pressing issues of 2026, focusing on the aggressive tactics employed by ICE and federal agencies that target communities rooted in historical oppression. They discuss recent efforts aimed at disenfranchising youth voters, particularly on HBCU and college campuses across North Carolina, and highlight the importance of voter protection in the 2026 Midterms. They also discuss the potential impact of the "Make Elections Great Again" act and recent FBI raids on election offices. Support the show Follow us on all your favorite platforms! Instagram: @democracync TikTok: @democracync Threads: @democracync Bluesky: @democracync Facebook: @DemocracyNorthCarolina Youtube: @DemocracyNorthCarolina

    1 hr

  3. JAN 28

    2026 Elections and What Democracy Means This Year?

    2026 Elections and What Democracy Means This Year What if 2026 isn't just an election year, but the fight for representation itself? In this Season 6 premiere of Built by Us, host Kai McNeil sits down with Professor Dr. Irving Joyner from North Carolina Central University to examine the high stakes of the 2026 midterms and what democracy actually means for North Carolinians right now. Professor Joyner, who has spent decades studying civil rights and constitutional law, traces the history of voting rights expansion in North Carolina from the groundbreaking introduction of early voting in 1991 to the historic 2008 and 2012 turnout when Black voter participation outpaced white voter participation for the first time. But he also unpacks the ongoing attacks on those gains, from voter ID laws to the racial gerrymandering that has left one party controlling nearly 80% of our congressional delegation despite North Carolina being a 50-50 purple state. This episode breaks down what members of Congress, NC senators, and NC representatives actually do for everyday North Carolinians, not just the textbook definitions. From understanding provisional ballots to recognizing how gerrymandering in Congressional District 1 undermines fair representation, Professor Joyner explains why active participation matters now more than ever. As we enter a critical year with US House, US Senate, and NC General Assembly races on the ballot, this conversation is essential listening for anyone who wants to understand the power they hold and the democracy they're fighting to protect. Support Democracy NC's work at demnc.co/donate and connect with us on Bluesky, Threads, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Support the show Follow us on all your favorite platforms! Instagram: @democracync TikTok: @democracync Threads: @democracync Bluesky: @democracync Facebook: @DemocracyNorthCarolina Youtube: @DemocracyNorthCarolina

    36 min

  4. 12/10/2025

    Racist Maps Make Racist Reps: Karen Ziegler on Speaking Truth to Power Pt. 2

    In Part 2 of our conversation with Democracy Out Loud co-founder Karen Ziegler, we delve deeper into the fight against gerrymandering in North Carolina and what's truly at stake for CD1, the historic Black Belt district that encompasses every Black-majority county in the state. Karen breaks down how North Carolina votes 50-50 but ends up with deeply unequal representation, and why the attempt to eliminate Black representation in Congress is not just unconstitutional but morally unconscionable. But this episode isn't just about maps and power grabs. It's about why Karen keeps showing up, keeps getting thrown out of the General Assembly, and keeps fighting. She shares what drives her moral center, how spiritual practice sustains activism, and why she believes we're part of an unstoppable movement for justice even when the house built on genocide and slavery needs to fall down around us. Support the show Follow us on all your favorite platforms! Instagram: @democracync TikTok: @democracync Threads: @democracync Bluesky: @democracync Facebook: @DemocracyNorthCarolina Youtube: @DemocracyNorthCarolina

    38 min

  5. 12/03/2025

    Racist Maps Make Racist Reps: Mark Swallow on Speaking Truth to Power Pt. 1

    Fifteen organizers stood up in the NC Senate. Fifty people in the gallery joined them. Two million views later, "racist maps make racist reps" became a rallying cry against North Carolina's latest gerrymander. Mark Swallow leads Democracy Out Loud's Legislative Response Team, the organizers who show up every week to be the voice for North Carolinians who can't take time off work to testify. When the GOP advanced another map designed to help Donald Trump gain another congressional seat, Mark and his team made their voices heard the only way they could: from the gallery. In this episode, Mark shares what it felt like when the whole room stood with them, why getting kicked out "always feels good," and what keeps him going after nine years of this work. "If you don't say anything, the lie lingers," he says. "When you have your say, there's truth out there to counter that lie." Protest until something changes. Support the show Follow us on all your favorite platforms! Instagram: @democracync TikTok: @democracync Threads: @democracync Bluesky: @democracync Facebook: @DemocracyNorthCarolina Youtube: @DemocracyNorthCarolina

    33 min
  6. Plugged In Pissed Off: Local Wins & Working Power

    11/07/2025

    Plugged In Pissed Off: Local Wins & Working Power

    In this episode of 'Plugged In & Pissed Off', Beatrice and Joselle bask in the post-election vibes of the 2025 municipal elections and dig into various races that happened across the country and in North Carolina. www.democracync.org/donate Support the show Follow us on all your favorite platforms! Instagram: @democracync TikTok: @democracync Threads: @democracync Bluesky: @democracync Facebook: @DemocracyNorthCarolina Youtube: @DemocracyNorthCarolina

    25 min

  7. 11/05/2025

    GOTV: Beyond the Ballot

    You voted awesome! But what happens next? Host Kai McNeil teams up with JP Grillet (Election Protection Research Manager) and Marques Thompson (Organizing Director) to demystify the post-election process. Learn how your vote gets counted, what county boards do to ensure accuracy, how to track the issues and candidates you supported, and most importantly—how to stay engaged long after election day ends. Support the show Follow us on all your favorite platforms! Instagram: @democracync TikTok: @democracync Threads: @democracync Bluesky: @democracync Facebook: @DemocracyNorthCarolina Youtube: @DemocracyNorthCarolina

    20 min
  8. Plugged In Pissed Off: Racial Gerrymandering in NC

    10/27/2025

    Plugged In Pissed Off: Racial Gerrymandering in NC

    In this episode of 'Plugged In and Pissed Off', Beatrice and Joselle discuss the mid-cycle redistricting war that has taken over the country. They dig into the historical context of partisan and racial gerrymandering in North Carolina and the implications it has for Black communities in Congressional District 1.  Support the show Follow us on all your favorite platforms! Instagram: @democracync TikTok: @democracync Threads: @democracync Bluesky: @democracync Facebook: @DemocracyNorthCarolina Youtube: @DemocracyNorthCarolina

    29 min
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About

Built By Us Media spotlights movement makers and shakers across North Carolina. Hosts Kai and Joselle sit down with organizers, activists, and working-class people who are fighting for justice, building power, and making sure our voices aren't just heard, but centered. Every episode connects you with someone who's putting in work for liberation, and gives you the tools to join them. Because the North Carolina we deserve is being built by us.  Learn more at democracync.org!

Information

  • Creator
    Democracy North Carolina
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    132
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Built By Us
  • Show Website
    Built By Us