Title: Building Stronger Youth, Stronger Families, & Stronger Communities Episode 11- Marcus Meneese Peggy sits down with Marcus Meneese, founder and executive director of Stronger Than My Father, a nonprofit expanding into Williamson County. Marcus discusses his journey from mentoring his cousin in 2003 to founding the organization in 2012, inspired by his son's shirt. The program focuses on mentoring young men from fatherless homes, emphasizing educational achievement, dignity, and...

Title: A Vision for Tennessee Rooted in Equity, Opportunity, and Progress Episode 10- Dr. LaRhonda Williams Peggy sits down with Dr. LaRhonda Williams, a candidate for Tennessee’s District 65 with a diverse background in political science, criminal justice, and education. Dr. LaRhonda highlights her father's service as a Lieutenant Colonel and POW in Vietnam and her mother's role as an educational specialist. She credits her parents for instilling in her values of service and community...

Title: Advocating for Reproductive Rights, Mental Health, and Economic Well-being in Tennessee Episode 9- Dr. Laura Andreson Peggy sits down with Dr. Laura Andreson, an OBGYN running for Tennessee's state legislature. She decided to run for office after the fall of Roe v. Wade, as she felt compelled to engage in political advocacy to protect women's reproductive healthcare rights. She has been involved in press conferences, committee meetings, and a lawsuit against the state of Tennessee...

Title: The Fight for Equity in Williamson County Schools Episode 8- Revida Rahman Peggy talks with Revida Rahman, a community leader in Williamson County, Tennessee who has been at the forefront of efforts to address systemic racism and inequities in the local school district. In 2018, Ravida and other families of color in the area began to raise concerns about field trips to local plantations, where they felt the historical narratives being presented were incomplete and biased. This led to...

Peggy talks with Political Director at Tennessee Legislative Democrats, Charles Uffelman. In this episode of Blue Lift, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with Charles "Chazz" Uffelman, a seasoned political organizer and expert on Tennessee politics. Chazz shares his personal journey into politics, starting from his early involvement in the 2008 Obama campaign as a middle schooler. He discusses his campaign work for local and statewide Democratic candidates, as well as his time organizing for...

Having More Appreciation for The Federal Government Episode 6- Maryam Abolfazli Maryam Abolfazli is running against Andy Ogles to represent Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District. Maryam, a proud Tennessean, refuses to stand idly by while our state's values are under attack. Now, she's determined to stop extremist politicians from dismantling our fundamental freedoms. As a mother and woman in Tennessee, Maryam understands the importance of fighting for policies that protect women and...

Putting people over politics w/ Claire Jones In this episode, Peggy gets to have a conversation with Claire Jones. A Kentucky native and nurse who is running for Tennessee House District 61, covering Brentwood and Franklin. Her campaign focuses on people over politics, aiming to address issues like gun control and healthcare through balanced legislation. She emphasizes the importance of policy on patient care and highlights her experiences with gun violence and healthcare deserts.  Jones...

Lifting Voices, Bridging Divides W/Dr. Rod Berger Peggy talks with Dr. Rod Berger – A globally acclaimed storyteller and keynote speaker, who's special power is converting today's stories into tomorrow's currency!  In this episode, they talk about finding the best way to find your own voice, concern for local school districts, working for water in Uganda and more... Dr. Berger's Background and Achievements (1:58) Dr. Berger highlights the power of storytelling to create empathy and...

Peggy talks with Justin Kanew, founder of Tennessee Holler about his vested interest in the betterment of Tennessee. Justin is a husband and dad and movie producer who recently ran for congress in Tennessee's 7th District, and who thinks you should run for office too.  Challenges in Voter Turnout and Election Integrity (3:09) Healthcare and Rural Broadband Issues (7:19) Veterans' Rights and Political Activism (13:39) Legislative Challenges and Voucher Issues (20:42) Private Prisons and...

Peggy talks with Award-Winning Journalist with Tennessee Lookout Holly McCall about the treatment women seem to receive in politics. An award-winning columnist, Holly McCall has been a fixture in Tennessee media and politics for decades. She covered city hall for papers in Columbus, Ohio and Joplin, Missouri before returning to Tennessee. Holly brings a deep wealth of knowledge about Tennessee’s political processes and players and likes nothing better than getting into the weeds of how...

In this debut episode of Blue Lift, Peggy talks with 6th generation Williamson County resident and good friend, Damon Rogers. Damon is a Navy wife and outspoken in all things TN Democrat! Her blue realization started when George W. Bush sent her husband back to war in 2001. Her story about becoming a loud and proud Democrat is captivating and will inspire you! 5:20 - Being a part of wars since Vietnam 12:00 - Tips for other Dems in other markets 17:45 - Seeing the extremes develop in...