Why Not Me? 2028

Shana Bynon

What if a regular person ran for President? Why Not Me? is a smart, thoughtful, sometimes funny podcast about one woman’s journey to ask that question — out loud. Shana is not a celebrity, not a billionaire, and not backed by a political machine. She’s a former nonprofit worker and PTA fundraiser, and current higher ed employee who’s spent her life working, parenting, and trying to make things better from the ground up. In each episode, she explores what it would actually take for someone like her to run for the highest office in the land — from policy ideas to campaign hurdles, from civic curiosity to systemic barriers. Along the way, she asks bigger questions about leadership, representation, and what democracy really means in 21st-century America. This isn’t a show about bashing politicians or pushing an agenda. It’s about making space for new voices, honest conversations, and people who’ve never seen themselves in power. If you've ever looked at a ballot and thought, “Seriously? These are my choices?” — this podcast is for you.

Episodes

  1. OCT 14

    Season 1 Finale

    Episode Summary We made it! In this season finale, I take a step back to reflect on everything we’ve explored together.  In this mini episode, I talk about the biggest lessons from Season 1 and what’s coming in Season 2. Spoiler: more interviews, deeper dives into the issues that shape our lives, and more conversations about how everyday people — not just career politicians — can step into leadership. So let’s wrap up this season the way we started it: with the question, Why not me? And even more importantly… Why not you? Resources & References Brookings Institution – resources on what presidents can and can’t do, and the role of parties. OpenSecrets.org – data on campaign spending and finance.FairVote.org – resources on ranked choice voting and alternatives to the two-party system.Call to Action: Thank you for joining me on this journey through Season 1 of Why Not Me? — your time, your curiosity, and your willingness to think differently about politics mean so much. If this season made you think, laugh, or wonder, share it with a friend who’s said, “I wish someone like me could run,” because maybe they can. If you have something you want to hear about in a future episode, or even want to be interviewed, send me an email or voice memo at shana@whynotme2028.com. And stay tuned for Season 2, where we’ll dive deeper into issues that affect all of us — wages, healthcare, housing — and keep asking the big question: What would our democracy look like if we believed ordinary people could lead it? Use this link to send us a text, or email us at the address in show notes. Email shana@whynotme2028.com Credits Graphics and editing by Rory Lawson Music by Universfield from Pixabay

    11 min

  2. SEP 30

    Two Parties? Why Not More? Why Not None?

    Episode Summary: In this episode, we ask a question that might sound radical… until you sit with it for a minute: Do we actually need political parties? Along the way, we talk about how those party dynamics impact our elections, our discourse, and the people who feel left behind by a system that only offers two choices. So: What would politics look like if we stripped away the party labels and focused on what we actually believe? And is it possible to reclaim the idea of representation — not for a team, but for a country? References & Resources: Federalist Paper No. 10 – James Madison on factionsBrookings Institution – What Political Parties Do Pew Research Center – The shifting coalitions within each party Ballot Access News – Ongoing coverage of third-party and independent ballot access strugglesOpenSecrets – Data on campaign finance and party fundraisingFairVote – Resources on Ranked Choice Voting and alternatives to two-party dominance Ezra Klein, Why We’re Polarized – Insight into how our modern party system feeds divisionCall to Action: Think about the last time you voted. Did you vote for someone because you believed in them — or because they were “your party’s” candidate? What if more of us stopped voting like team captains and started voting like citizens? And if you’ve ever thought, “I could never run for office — I’m not a Democrat or a Republican…’ What if that wasn’t a disqualifier — but a superpower? Contact: Do you have a story to tell, or a comment to make? Email me at shana@whynontme2028.com Use this link to send us a text, or email us at the address in show notes. Email shana@whynotme2028.com Credits Graphics and editing by Rory Lawson Music by Universfield from Pixabay

    19 min

  3. SEP 16

    Why Not a Teacher? A Conversation with Amy Brooks

    Summary Running for office isn’t just something for career politicians or wealthy insiders. Sometimes it’s your neighbor, your kids’ teacher, or the mom you see at the grocery store. In this episode, Shana sits down with Amy Brooks, a high school English teacher, mom, and candidate for State Delegate in Maryland. This is her second run, and she shares what pushed her to run again, what she’s learned along the way, and how everyday life shapes her campaign. From balancing family and teaching with politics, to fundraising, door-knocking, and staying motivated — this conversation takes you inside what it’s like for a “regular person” to step into public service. Resources & References Maryland State Board of Elections – Candidate filing and election info National Conference of State Legislatures – Resources on state legislatures and representation Campaign site for Amy Brooks  Call to Action Would you ever consider running for local office — or do you know someone in your community who should? I’d love to hear your stories. Send me your thoughts at shana@whynotme2028.com. If you’re enjoying the podcast, share this episode with a friend — maybe one who’s been saying, “Why not me?” Use this link to send us a text, or email us at the address in show notes. Email shana@whynotme2028.com Credits Graphics and editing by Rory Lawson Music by Universfield from Pixabay

    48 min

  4. SEP 2

    Who Do You Believe Anymore?

    Summary Trust is the glue that holds democracy together. But today, Americans distrust almost everything — political parties, Congress, government agencies, even each other. In this episode, I look at where trust has frayed, where it still exists, and why it matters. From The West Wing’s fictional handover of power to neighbors helping each other with packages, we explore how trust once worked — and how we might rebuild it. Resources & References In 2023, Congress passed just 27 laws — the lowest number since the Great Depression (PolitiFact).Michael Lewis, Who Is Government? (2025) — collection of essays on public servants’ contributions.Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone (2000) — landmark work on declining civic engagement and trust.Pew Research Center, Public Trust in Government: 1958–2023.Historical context of unequal justice for minorities in U.S. courts (Jim Crow, sentencing disparities).Call to Action Do you still see trust working — in your neighborhood, your community, or an institution you believe in? Send me your stories at shana@whynotme2028.com. And if this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend. Use this link to send us a text, or email us at the address in show notes. Email shana@whynotme2028.com Credits Graphics and editing by Rory Lawson Music by Universfield from Pixabay

    18 min

  5. AUG 19

    The News Is Broken — Can We Fix It?

    Episode Summary In this episode of Why Not Me?, we dive into the messy world of American media — from the early days of openly partisan newspapers, to the era of the Fairness Doctrine, to today’s fractured, 24-hour, hyper-partisan news environment. We explore how corporate consolidation, the loss of shared facts, and the return to openly partisan outlets shape not only what we see and hear, but also who gets heard. Along the way, we revisit The West Wing’s sharp observations about media  ownership, and ask whether a better-informed democracy is still possible in the age of endless headlines and social media feeds. Topics Covered The historical shift from partisan press to “objective” news — and back againThe Fairness Doctrine — what it was, why it mattered, and what happened when it was repealedHow corporate ownership affects what makes the newsThe power and pitfalls of the 24-hour news cyclePractical steps listeners can take to support a healthier news ecosystemNotable References & Resources Ezra Klein, Why We’re Polarized (2020) – discussion of partisan press historyFederal Communications Commission – “The Fairness Doctrine” historical overviewPew Research Center – “Americans’ Trust in Media” survey dataColumbia Journalism Review – articles on corporate media consolidation Call to Action Do you think the media has gotten too partisan — or is it just reflecting us? What would you change about how news is produced and consumed? Share your thoughts and let’s start the conversation. And if you enjoy Why Not Me?, share it with a friend who loves a good debate about politics, policy, and pop culture. Use this link to send us a text, or email us at the address in show notes. Email shana@whynotme2028.com Credits Graphics and editing by Rory Lawson Music by Universfield from Pixabay

    21 min

  6. AUG 7

    Why Not Gen Z? A Conversation with My Daughter

    Description In this special episode, I sit down with my daughter for a candid, funny, and sometimes surprising conversation about politics from a Gen Z perspective. From what frustrates her most about today’s leaders, to how young people get their news, to whether she’d ever run for office herself — nothing is off the table. Along the way, we compare notes on generational values, civic engagement, and how the political system could work better for everyone. What You’ll Hear in This Episode The general “vibe” Gen Z has about politics right nowHow TikTok helps shape political awarenessWhat issues Gen Z cares about most — and how that’s different (or not!) from older generationsThoughts on voting, activism, and whether running for office feels realisticSome light mother–daughter banter and plenty of laughsResources & References Pew Research Center – Millennials and Gen Z: Political Views and Civic EngagementCIRCLE (Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement) – Youth Voting Trends and DataCall to Action What about you — do you know how the young people in your life feel about politics? Have you asked them lately? Share your thoughts, stories, and even your disagreements by emailing me. And if you enjoyed this conversation, pass it along to someone who thinks Gen Z is “checked out” — they might be surprised. Use this link to send us a text, or email us at the address in show notes. Email shana@whynotme2028.com Credits Graphics and editing by Rory Lawson Music by Universfield from Pixabay

    55 min

  7. JUL 29

    What If We Had a Level Playing Field?

    Summary Running for office isn’t just about good ideas or a desire to serve — it’s about access. And in America, access starts with money. A lot of it. In this episode, I take a closer look at why the cost of running for office is so high, who gets left out because of it, and how other countries are doing it differently. From campaign finance to media gatekeeping to public funding solutions, we’ll ask: What would democracy look like if it were built for the rest of us? In This Episode, I Talk About Real-world stories like Gary Hart mortgaging his house to runHow Citizens United changed everythingThe media’s role in deciding who gets taken seriouslyWhy some voices are never heard — even when they’re qualifiedWhat countries like Ireland, France, and the UK do differentlyWhat a public financing system could look like in the U.S.How local reforms are already working — and where we go from hereResources & Links: Campaign Spending & Fundraising OpenSecrets – 2020 Election CostsGary Hart – WikipediaCitizens United v. FEC – Oyez SummaryMedia Gatekeeping & Debate Access Shorenstein Center: 2016 Media Coverage StudyAndrew Yang 2020 Campaign – WikipediaLawrence Lessig 2016 Presidential Run – WikipediaGlobal Campaign Finance Comparisons Ireland’s Spending Caps – SIPOBBC – UK Election RulesFrance – Campaign Finance Overview (in French)Local Reform Examples Howard County Public Financing ProgramSeattle’s Democracy VouchersNYC Campaign Finance BoardListener Prompt Would you be more likely to run for office if money weren’t such a huge barrier? What kinds of reforms would make our elections more accessible - and more fair? Have you seen local efforts that give you hope? Support the Show If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who’s said, “I wish someone like me could run.” Leave a rating, send a message, or post about it. Use this link to send us a text, or email us at the address in show notes. Email shana@whynotme2028.com Credits Graphics and editing by Rory Lawson Music by Universfield from Pixabay

    17 min

  8. JUL 15

    What If It’s You...Running for Something Else?

    Summary Sure, this podcast started with the idea of me running for President. But what if it’s you — and what if you’re not aiming for the White House? In this episode, we shift the focus from President to other national campaigns and state impact. We’ll talk about the real backgrounds of some folks who stepped into office — sometimes unexpectedly. From a Minnesota pro-wrestler to a fictional social studies teacher, we look at how regular people can lead, and what offices might actually be more accessible (and impactful) than you think. Because maybe you don’t have to run for President. Maybe you just have to run. Resources & Links - List of Presidents and their positions - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_the_United_States_by_previous_experience - How Every Member Got to Congress - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/01/26/opinion/sunday/paths-to-congress.html  - Fun Facts About Governors - https://governors.rutgers.edu/fast-facts-about-americas-governors/  - Harry S. Truman - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman - Pew Research Center - Age and generation in the 119th Congress - https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/01/16/age-and-generation-in-the-119th-congress-somewhat-younger-with-fewer-boomers-and-more-gen-xers - Jesse Venture - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Ventura  - Ballot Ready – Find out what’s on your local ballot - https://www.ballotready.org/ Listener Question Have you ever thought about running for something — school board, city council, state rep? What would push you to take that step? What’s holding you back? Send me a text (through the web site) or email (shana@whynotme2028.com) or Instagram message — I’d love to feature your story in a future episode. Support the Show If Why Not Me? is resonating with you, please follow, rate, or share the podcast. And tell someone who’s never seen themselves in power — but probably should. Use this link to send us a text, or email us at the address in show notes. Email shana@whynotme2028.com Credits Graphics and editing by Rory Lawson Music by Universfield from Pixabay

    16 min

  9. JUL 8

    Okay, What Would I Run On?

    Summary In this episode, Shana lays out the foundational beliefs and big-picture ideas that would shape her platform — from fair wages and affordable healthcare to housing, taxes, education, justice reform, and more. She reflects on how real-life experience, not just political theory, could inform leadership — and why it’s time to reimagine who belongs at the top. Resources & References Economic Inequality & Wages - Economic Policy Institute: The Productivity–Pay Gap - https://www.epi.org/productivity-pay-gap/  - Forbes: CEO-to-Worker Pay Ratios - https://www.forbes.com/sites/annefield/2022/05/23/ceo-worker-pay-gap-widens-and-employees-arent-happy-about-it/ Healthcare History & Policy - Kaiser Family Foundation: Public Opinion on Healthcare Reform - https://www.kff.org/ - National Health Law Program: Universal Healthcare and the U.S. System - https://healthlaw.org/ Housing & Affordability - National Low Income Housing Coalition: Out of Reach Report - https://nlihc.org/oor Tax Policy - IRS Historical Data: Top Marginal Tax Rates - https://www.irs.gov/statistics/soi-tax-stats-historical-table-23 Immigration & Border Policy - Migration Policy Institute: US Immigration Policy Facts - https://www.migrationpolicy.org/ - Cato Institute: The Case for Legal Immigration Reform - https://www.cato.org/ Education & Justice Reform - Brookings Institution: School-to-Prison Pipeline - https://www.brookings.edu/articles/class-notes-the-school-to-prison-pipeline-the-economics-of-ai-and-more/ - Vera Institute of Justice: Ending Mass Incarceration - https://www.vera.org/ - National Education Association: Support for Teachers - https://www.nea.org/ Media & Corporate Conflicts - Columbia Journalism Review: Media Ownership & Power - https://www.cjr.org/ - Free Press: Corporate Media and Democracy - https://www.freepress.net/ Small Business & Employee Ownership - SBA: Access to Capital for Small Businesses - https://www.sba.gov/ Freedom & Civil Liberties - Brennan Center for Justice: Protecting Democracy and Civil Rights - https://www.brennancenter.org/ Follow & Support - Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts - Leave a review if you like what you’re hearing - Have a question, comment, or story to share? Reach out at shana@whynotme2028.com Use this link to send us a text, or email us at the address in show notes. Email shana@whynotme2028.com Credits Graphics and editing by Rory Lawson Music by Universfield from Pixabay

    24 min

  10. JUL 1

    So, What Does a President Actually Do?

    Summary Today I’m digging into the question behind the headlines: What does the President of the United States actually do? Beyond the big speeches and bigger headlines, what’s the real job description? We’ll look at the official powers, the practical limits, and whether someone like me — or maybe like you — could actually do it. In This Episode, I Talk About What the Constitution actually says about presidential powers What the President can’t do (hint: it’s a lot) Why values matter more than slogans Whether a regular person could actually take on the role Resources & Links Article II of the U.S. Constitution - https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/article-2/  USA.gov – What the President Does - https://www.usa.gov/presidents  Brookings – What Presidents Can and Can’t Do - ““Do eroding presidential norms undermine constitutional principles?” - https://www.brookings.edu/articles/do-eroding-presidential-norms-undermine-constitutional-principles/  Listener Question If you had to take over as President tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’d want to do — and the one thing you’d totally dread? Support the Show If you’re enjoying Why Not Me?, subscribe, share, and leave a quick rating or review. It helps new listeners find the show — and reminds the algorithm that everyday voices matter. Use this link to send us a text, or email us at the address in show notes. Email shana@whynotme2028.com Credits Graphics and editing by Rory Lawson Music by Universfield from Pixabay

    16 min

  11. JUN 23

    So, What Does It Take to Run for President?

    Episode Summary You don’t need a law degree, a million Instagram followers, or a private jet to run for president. Legally, the bar is low. But in practice? That’s a different story. In this episode, I unpack the real barriers to running for the highest office in the land — from fundraising and ballot access to party politics and media gatekeeping. It’s part behind-the-scenes explainer, part reality check, and part rallying cry for everyday people to imagine what might be possible if we rebuilt the system with us in mind. In This Episode, I Talk About: What the Constitution actually requires (spoiler: it’s not much)The real costs of running — financially and emotionallyWhat it takes to build a campaign team from scratchFundraising fatigue and how much time candidates spend just asking for moneyBallot access laws (like the 1M+ signatures you’d need to go nationwide)How political parties and media gatekeeping filter out “unserious” candidatesWhy regular people get left behind — and how that affects policy and democracy Resources & Links: Ballot Access & Requirements Ballot Access for Presidential Candidates – BallotpediaCampaign Costs & Fundraising Examples OpenSecrets – 2020 Election CostsRFK Jr. Ballot Access Costs – NY Post Listener Prompt: If you didn’t have to raise millions — or already be famous — would you ever consider running for something?  What would make it feel possible? What’s keeping you — or someone you know — out? Support the Show: If this episode gave you something to think about, share it with someone.  Leave a rating. Send a message. Start a conversation. Because democracy isn’t just for the powerful — it’s for all of us. Use this link to send us a text, or email us at the address in show notes. Email shana@whynotme2028.com Credits Graphics and editing by Rory Lawson Music by Universfield from Pixabay

    15 min

  12. JUN 23

    Why Not Me?

    Welcome to Why Not Me?, a podcast where I explore the wild idea of a regular person — me — running for President of the United States. In this first episode, I share my story: where I come from, what shaped me, and why I even started asking this question in the first place. In This Episode: My Pennsylvania roots and working-class upbringingWhat I learned from nonprofits, government work, and higher edWhy I'm even thinking about thisThe big question: Could someone like me run — and should they? Have you ever looked at a ballot and thought, “Seriously… these are my options?” What would it take for someone like you to run? Use this link to send us a text, or email us at the address in show notes. Email shana@whynotme2028.com Credits Graphics and editing by Rory Lawson Music by Universfield from Pixabay

    9 min
  • 12 Episodes

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

What if a regular person ran for President? Why Not Me? is a smart, thoughtful, sometimes funny podcast about one woman’s journey to ask that question — out loud. Shana is not a celebrity, not a billionaire, and not backed by a political machine. She’s a former nonprofit worker and PTA fundraiser, and current higher ed employee who’s spent her life working, parenting, and trying to make things better from the ground up. In each episode, she explores what it would actually take for someone like her to run for the highest office in the land — from policy ideas to campaign hurdles, from civic curiosity to systemic barriers. Along the way, she asks bigger questions about leadership, representation, and what democracy really means in 21st-century America. This isn’t a show about bashing politicians or pushing an agenda. It’s about making space for new voices, honest conversations, and people who’ve never seen themselves in power. If you've ever looked at a ballot and thought, “Seriously? These are my choices?” — this podcast is for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Shana Bynon
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Why Not Me? 2028
  • Show Website
    Why Not Me? 2028