The Campaign Strategist
Dive into the world of advocacy with The Campaign Strategist. Each episode features in-depth conversations with activists and experts who break down their approaches to planning, executing, and winning campaigns. Learn about the strategies that have shaped policies, changed minds, and mobilized communities. Perfect for anyone looking to amplify their impact and drive meaningful change.New episodes on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays each month.
The Democratic Party Isn’t Coming to Save Us: Tara Buss on Competitive Authoritarianism and the Path Forward
Tara Buss, Senior Director of Research at the Research Collaborative, joins The Campaign Strategist to unpack what she calls "competitive authoritarianism" in the U.S.—a state that mimics democracy while systematically undermining it. She and Pete explore why mass non-compliance is critical, how narrative strategy can shape resistance, and why polling shouldn’t lead progressive strategy. “The rules of the game have changed,” she warns. “We can’t wait until 2026—we have to act now.” This is a compelling, clear-eyed look at the fight to preserve democracy.Â
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A Progressive Art of War with Eric Hensal
What can Sun Tzu teach us about winning political power in 2025?
In this new episode of The Campaign Strategist, I talk with Eric Hensal—veteran progressive strategist, author of A Progressive Art of War and host of the podcast Progressive Conjecture—about applying timeless military strategy to modern political challenges.
We explore:
Why progressives often lose not because of the opposition, but because of strategic misstepsHow to think like an organizer and a generalThe importance of deception, clarity, and preparation in narrative and coalition workWhy “knowing the ground” matters more than moral certaintyWhat Biden, rural ou...Say It Like You Mean It: Narrative Strategy with Anat Shenker-Osorio
Messaging maven and strategist Anat Shenker-Osorio joins Pete to unpack the mechanics of narrative, the seductive power of repetition, and why too much progressive messaging sounds like it came from a law school textbook. From “Florida fascism facilities” to “start how you want to finish,” Anat brings clarity and conviction to the question of how we talk about political danger—and what we should say instead. This is a sharp, funny, and necessary conversation about how to build power through language.Â
Follow Anat's Substack Words to Win by and check out her firm's work: ASO Communications.
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How the People of NC Stopped Mark Robinson | Durrell Johnson on The Campaign Strategist
Durrell Johnson helped lead the campaign to stop Mark Robinson’s run for governor in North Carolina—and in doing so, created a roadmap for defeating far-right extremism.Â
In this episode, he explains how local groups built trust, centered impacted communities, and reached even conservative voters who felt the danger. “This wasn’t just about what Robinson said—it was about what would happen if he held power.” A must-listen for campaigners and communicators heading into 2026.Â
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The Art of Understanding and Connecting with Voters with Liz Kazal
Liz Kazal of the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy joins The Campaign Strategist to talk about why Republican members of Congress are starting to feel real political risk over their support for Trump’s tax and budget bill—and how her team is keeping the pressure on. From Medicaid cuts to economic messaging, Liz shares how organizers can turn pain into power—and why being “relentless” is the only path forward in today’s political climate.Â
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Nick Ahamed on How Progressives Can Win the Internet
Nick Ahamed, Deputy Executive Director of Priorities USA, joins Pete to break down the changing media landscape and what progressives must do to keep up. From the emotional resonance of abortion ads to why YouTube is essential for reaching young and diverse voters, Nick shares sharp insights on message testing, digital strategy, and long-term infrastructure. “You can’t talk to gamers and beauty YouTubers the same way—our messaging has to match the niche.”
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Indivisible's Dani Negrete on the Urgency of Building Power Before It’s Too Late
In this episode of The Campaign Strategist, Pete talks with Dani Negrete, National Political Director at Indivisible. Dani shares why “we don’t have four years to fix things,” drawing on lessons from recent campaigns and historical trends in authoritarian movements. They discuss how grassroots movements can sustain resistance, why cultural organizing is essential, and how to build power at the local level. A must-listen for anyone interested in advocacy, movement-building, and progressive political strategy.
Find all episodes at substack.tcspod.com or https://www.youtube.com/@TheCampaignStrategist
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Messaging Without Emotion or Risk = Political Failure — Saeed Mousavi
Pollster and strategist Saeed Mousavi joins The Campaign Strategist to explain why Democrats are losing emotional traction—and what it takes to reconnect. From risk-averse messaging to outdated research models, Saeed makes the case for a new, emotionally resonant strategy built for today’s media landscape.
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Why Restoring the Old Order Won’t Save Us | Michael Podhorzer Explains
Michael Podhorzer joins host Pete Altman to talk about what really happened in the 2024 election—and why the fight ahead isn’t about restoring the old order, but building a new one. From the failures of civil institutions to the importance of unions and organizing, this is a powerful conversation for anyone trying to navigate the Trump Era with clarity and strategy.
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How Activists Stopped Fracking in NY—And What We Can Learn From It
In this episode of The Campaign Strategist, Rich Schrader and Kate Sinding Daly take us inside the eight-year campaign that led New York to ban fracking—making it the first state with significant gas deposits to stop the practice. Rich is the Director of New York Government Affairs at NRDC. At the time, Kate was Senior Attorney and Deputy Director of NRDC’s New York Program. She is now Vice President of Law and Policy at the Conservation Law Foundation.
They share how their team, alongside grassroots allies, built public pressure, commissioned polling the state couldn’t ignore...
The Art of Organizing Clean Businesses with Bob Keefe
What happens when clean energy jobs face a political headwind—and how can business leaders fight back? In this episode of The Campaign Strategist, Bob Keefe of E2 joins Pete for a two-part conversation. First, they discuss how the Trump administration’s attacks on clean energy are stalling billions in investment and job creation. Then, they rewind to Bob’s original interview about the strategies E2 uses to mobilize unexpected messengers—businesspeople—for climate advocacy. If you want to understand how economic arguments win policy fights, this one’s for you.
Learn more about E2: https://e2.org/
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Why Democrats Are Losing the Working Class | Chuck Rocha Explains
Political strategist and labor organizer Chuck Rocha, founder of Solidarity Strategies, joins Pete Altman on The Campaign Strategist to talk about why progressives are losing touch with working-class voters—and how to fix it. From his start as a teenage union steward in Texas to running Latino outreach for Bernie Sanders, Chuck shares hard-won lessons on strategy, cultural competency, and building lasting political power.
About Chuck: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-rocha-476a6276
Solidarity Strategies: https://www.solidaritystrategies.com/
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The Art of Prep and Story with Melissa Waage
On this week’s pod, I had the joy of talking with the wonderful Melissa Waage — a brilliant strategist, long-time environmental advocate, and now VP of Advocacy & Engagement at Sandy Hook Promise.
We dig into campaign strategy fundamentals, what it really takes to move decision-makers, why preparation and storytelling matter so much, and how to keep people engaged even through long, hard fights (looking at you, Inflation Reduction Act!). Plus, Melissa shares the best piece of advice she ever got and why self-care matters for campaigners.
Sandy Hook Promise: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/
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Leadership and long-term thinking with Mark Magaña
Environmentalist, strategist and leader Mark Magaña joins The Campaign Strategist to talk about the need for long-term vision and investments in growing progressive political power, how to think like a White House staffer when asking them for help, and his approach to building up the infrastructure of the movement. Mark is the Founding President & CEO of GreenLatinos, a co-founder of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition, and serves on the boards of the League of Conservation Voters, Green 2.0, and the Children’s Environmental Health Network.
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The Power of Questions with George Rakis
Friend and colleague George Rakis joins The Campaign Strategist today as we talk about his role leading the Climate Action Campaign from 2011 - 2018, which resulted in the first national carbon standards ever to be promulgated in the U.S. That's where I got to know George, from recommending him to run the campaign to my boss at NRDC to my role as senior advisor to the campaign. George came from a long electoral career which included running various Congressional and statewide campaigns, to senior roles in the Michigan Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee. George brought his electoral...
The Art of Focus with Danielle Droitsch
In this episode of 'The Campaign Strategist,' host Pete Altman interviews Danielle Droitsch, an environmental advocate and executive coach. Danielle shares her journey into environmental advocacy, beginning with a college protest against Exxon. The conversation delves into campaign strategies, including power mapping and decision-maker analysis. Danielle emphasizes the importance of focused, strategic actions over broad mobilization efforts, using examples from her work on campaigns like the Keystone XL pipeline and various watershed and wilderness protection initiatives. She also discusses coalition management, the significance of engaging diverse groups, and the challenges of getting collective agreements on strategies. The episode...
The Power of Culture with Reverend Lennox Yearwood
Reverend Lennox Yearwood Jr. joins us for a thought-provoking conversation about culture, advocacy and much more. President and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus and host of The Coolest Show podcast, Yearwood's activism was spurred by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which highlighted the need to address climate issues in his community.Â
Our conversation delves into his philosophy that culture is central to effective activism, describing how actions rooted in cultural engagement can bridge divides and rally communities. Yearwood discusses the Hip Hop Caucus's methods, like incorporating comedy and music into their campaigns, and emphasizes the importance of understanding a...
The Art of Organizing with Tom "Smitty" Smith
In this episode, Pete interviews Tom "Smitty" Smith, a seasoned advocate who shares insights and personal stories from decades of organizing, advocating, and lobbying. The discussion covers the essential elements of successful advocacy, including the importance of coalition-building, strategic adjustments, empowering community members, and the art of creating a 'hero's path' for opponents. Learn how to identify key issues, find effective solutions, and mobilize diverse groups to create impactful change.
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Welcome to The Campaign Strategist
The Campaign Strategist host Pete Altman introduces the show and what it's about: the art and science of advocacy.Â
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