Blueprint for California Advocates

There's 21 days left until election day - November 5th, 2024. It's a perfect time for me to share my compelling conversation with guest Darcy Totten, recorded some time back. We discuss the heavy weight of this political moment, what we can learn from billionaire preppers, and where we go from here. Darcy Totten is the Interim Executive Director at California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. If you want to learn more about Darcy's work, you can find her on Twitter at @Miss_Mausie. "We are the ones we have been waiting for." - June Jordan Want to defeat Donald Trump, retake the House, and keep the US Senate? Now's the time to step up. Go to https://www.mobilize.us/ [https://www.mobilize.us/] to find local, state and national races that need your help. Donate. Make phone calls. Send texts. Knock on Doors. Help in any way you can. Referenced in this episode: "The super-rich ‘preppers’ planning to save themselves from the apocalypse" [https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/sep/04/super-rich-prepper-bunkers-apocalypse-survival-richest-rushkoff] by Douglas Rushkoff, The Guardian, Sept 22, 2022. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/sep/04/super-rich-prepper-bunkers-apocalypse-survival-richest-rushkoff

In this episode of the Blueprint for California Advocates podcast, I'm honored to be joined by Arianna Z. Smith, founder of Arianna Public Affairs. As thousands of competing interests vie for attention at the California Capitol, it's hard to overestimate the importance of writing content that is compelling and persuasive. With 15+ years experience writing for a Capitol audience, Arianna Smith shares her expertise with advocates seeking to break through the noise. From how to avoid common mistakes to actionable tips for clear, impactful writing, you will learn a TON from this episode. 03:51 A Humbling Lesson in Writing 06:07 Challenges in Legislative Communication 06:48 Common Mistakes in Writing for the Capitol 08:38 Words and Phrases to Avoid 10:07 Tips for Clear and Impactful Writing 12:57 Benefits of Clear Communication 17:22 Final Advice and Closing Remarks BIOGRAPHY Arianna Z. Smith is the Founder and Principal of the boutique firm Arianna Public Affairs.  She specializes in policy writing of all kinds, advocacy training, and lobbying materials.  Arianna has spent nearly 20 years in California's policy circles as legislative Capitol staff and as a consultant to statewide professional associations, progressive non-profits, and lobbying firms.   Find Arianna on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariannazsmith/]or ariannazsmith.com [http://ariannazsmith.com/].  📧 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST NEWSLETTER Stay up to date with the podcast that brings you high-value conversations with advocacy leaders and lawmakers who share their insight and tactical advice on what it takes for legislative and political campaigns to succeed. https://www.kbhadvocacy.com/subscribe [https://www.kbhadvocacy.com/subscribe] ⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW AND SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND If you found this episode helpful, learned something new, or enjoyed listening, be sure to leave a review and share it with your friends and colleagues.  🗣️ CONNECT WITH KRISTINA BAS HAMILTON Website: https://www.kbhadvocacy.com/ [https://www.kbhadvocacy.com/] Twitter: @kbashamilton LinkedIn: @kbashamilton IG: @kbh_advocacy YouTube: @kbh_advocacy © 2024 KBH Advocacy, Inc.

I have the pleasure this week of talking with Impact Strategist Earl Dos Santos. Earl supports creators like Julia Louis-Dreyfus and other mission-driven celebrities to leverage their creativity and platform to drive real change in the world.   Earl's journey is not your everyday story. With a background in digital marketing, like many of us, he was compelled to get involved in political action after the 2016 presidential election. After working on several political campaigns, he created a unique – and exciting – niche: helping high-level influencers maximize their impact for the causes they care about.   What you'll learn in this episode: 00:19 - It started after the 2016 election 02:22 - Leveraging Celebrity Influence for Political Advocacy 05:32 - The Power of Digital Marketing in Advocacy 07:02 - Forget DC, look to Sacramento 09:30 - Navigating the World of Celebrity and Influencer Advocacy 10:16 - Strategies for Influencer Collaboration 23:27 - Be a Trusted Messenger 28:23 Final Thoughts and Advice for Advocates   Earl's insight and practical tips on working with celebrity advocates are invaluable! Connect with Earl on LinkedIn here 📧 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST NEWSLETTER Stay up to date with the podcast that brings you high-value conversations with advocacy leaders and lawmakers who share their insight and tactical advice on what it takes for legislative and political campaigns to succeed. https://www.kbhadvocacy.com/subscribe ⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW AND SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND If you found this episode helpful, learned something new, or enjoyed listening, be sure to leave a review and share it with your friends and colleagues.  🗣️ CONNECT WITH KRISTINA BAS HAMILTON Website: https://www.kbhadvocacy.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kbashamilton LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbashamilton/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/kbh_advocacy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kbh_advocacy © 2024 KBH Advocacy, Inc.

In today’s episode I have the honor of speaking with California Senator Josh Newman (D-29), representing portions of Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Senator Newman shares his journey to the California Senate, from a close election victory in 2016 to being the only legislator in state history to be recalled and then regain his seat. Prepare for a free-ranging and candid discussion about the challenges of governing and advocacy at the state level. From the need for bill introduction limits to navigating the complexities - and contradictions - of the legislative and budget processes, you’ll be sure to learn something new.  Episode highlights: 00:11 - An Unconventional Path to Politics 06:22 - Running for office as the Underdog - and winning 11:51 - Effective Advocacy in the California Legislature 18:59 - Bill introduction overload and the Push for Reform 28:52 - The delicate dance between budget and policy 33:09 Advocacy and Budgeting: Aligning for Success 36:41 The Power of Narrative: Winning Support for Your Bill   EPISODE RESOURCES: Senator Josh Newman’s Website: https://sd29.senate.ca.gov/index.php/ [https://sd29.senate.ca.gov/index.php/] Book: Changemaker: An Insider’s Guide to Getting Sh*t Done at the California Capitol  www.kbhadvocacy.com/changemaker [http://www.kbhadvocacy.com/changemaker] 📧 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST NEWSLETTER Stay up to date with the podcast that brings you high-value conversations with advocacy leaders and lawmakers who share their insight and tactical advice on what it takes for legislative and political campaigns to succeed. https://www.kbhadvocacy.com/subscribe [https://www.kbhadvocacy.com/subscribe] ⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW AND SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND If you found this episode helpful, learned something new, or enjoyed listening, be sure to leave a review on your podcast player and share it with your friends and colleagues.  CONNECT WITH KRISTINA BAS HAMILTON Founder of California lobbying and political consulting firm KBH Advocacy 🌐 Website: https://www.kbhadvocacy.com [ https://www.kbhadvocacy.com] 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/kbashamilton [https://twitter.com/kbashamilton] 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbashamilton/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbashamilton/] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbh_advocacy [https://www.instagram.com/kbh_advocacy] 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kbh_advocacy [https://www.youtube.com/@kbh_advocacy] © 2024 KBH Advocacy, Inc.

I'm thrilled to share my conversation with California State Controller Malia Cohen [https://www.sco.ca.gov/eo_about_bio.html] recorded Live at Manny's in San Francisco on February 22, 2024 With excellent moderation by Precious Green, we explore the art and science behind effective advocacy and the role we all can - and must - play in defending democracy and uplifting our communities. 01:01 Diving Into the Book: The Power of Legislative Advocacy 02:06 The Journey of a Lobbyist Turned Author 04:37 Understanding the Role of California's State Controller 10:55 The Art of Making Change: Clarity, Advocacy, and Strategy 26:44 Coalition Building: The Key to Legislative Success 31:31 Navigating California's Political Landscape 34:49 The Controller's Role in Policy and Change 📖 Order your copy of Changemaker: An Insider's Guide to Getting Sh*t Done at the California Capitol at www.kbhadvocacy.com/changemaker [www.kbhadvocacy.com/changemaker] 📧 SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE BLUEPRINT FOR CALIFORNIA ADVOCATES NEWSLETTER Get valuable insight and practical advice on what it really takes for legislative and political campaigns to succeed in California ⁠https://www.kbhadvocacy.com/subscribe⁠ [https://www.kbhadvocacy.com/subscribe] ⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW AND SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND If you found this episode helpful, learned something new, or enjoyed listening, be sure to subscribe and leave a review! 🌐 Website: https://www.blueprint-pod.com [https://www.blueprint-pod.com] 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/kbashamilton [https://twitter.com/kbashamilton] 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbashamilton/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbashamilton/] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbh_advocacy/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/kbh_advocacy/?hl=en] 🎥 YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@kbh_advocacy [https://www.youtube.com/@kbh_advocacy] © 2024 KBH Advocacy, Inc.