Best Michael Santos is an advocate Podcasts (2024)

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 …

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13. Family and Community 32:01

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11d ago32:01

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Here is chapter 13 from manuscript

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12. The 1996 Olympics 31:34

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11. Restructuring after Crisis 32:46

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34. How to work with Celebrity Advocates with guest Earl Dos Santos 32:21

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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 …

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10. The Holy Father 33:32

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9-Service and Community 33:30

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33. From the Army to the California Senate: An Unfiltered Take on Policymaking with guest Senator Josh Newman 37:42

4M ago37:42

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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.…

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8-Sports Catering 30:52

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32. We are the Changemakers we have been waiting for with guest State Controller Malia Cohen 38:03

4M ago38:03

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I'm thrilled to share my conversation with California State Controller Malia Cohen recorded Live at Manny's in San Francisco on February 22, 2024With 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 D…

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7. Sowing Seeds—An Extraordinary Life 32:06

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6 Campaigning for Office 31:07

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31. What Advocates Need to Know About the Creator Economy with guest Ashwath Narayanan 31:45

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You may have heard about the “creator economy” and think it has nothing to do with politics or advocacy. It’s time to think again. How we communicate with each other is constantly evolving in the digital age. Advocates who adapt to and embrace these changes will have a significant advantage when it comes to winning policy and political campaigns. I…

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5-Family Business 33:29

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30. Inside the committee process with Senator Lena Gonzalez 27:04

6M ago27:04

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In today's episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with California Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-33), hailing from the great city of Long Beach. As Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, Senator Gonzalez shared her unique insights into the legislative committee process. We discuss the behind-the-scenes work that goes into vetting and advancing b…

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4 Pizza and Ice Cream 32:29

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3 People and Politics 31:21

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2—Maysville and Gratitude 36:00

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1 Jerry—An Extraordinary Life 34:20

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29. How to Win Votes & Influence People with guest Christina Harbridge 44:00

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Have you ever given your most passionate, well rehearsed pitch for a bill during a lobby visit, only to find the lawmaker or staff barely listening? You look up to find them with eyes glazed over or worse checking their phone as you speak? It’s happened to me and let’s just say I’ve left those meetings angry and deflated. So what can advocates do t…

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28: Narrative change is how we win with guest Michael Tubbs 29:52

12M ago29:52

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I had the great fortune recently to speak with Michael Tubbs, former Mayor of Stockton and Founder of End Poverty in California (EPIC) and Mayors for a Guaranteed Income. Mayor Tubbs is also currently serving as Special Advisor for Economic Mobility and Opportunity to Governor Gavin Newsom. In today's episode, we discuss why and how advocates must …

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27: “If you’re uncomfortable it means you’re growing”: Lessons for women who want to lead with guest Libby Schaaf 33:49

1y ago33:49

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On the 1 year anniversary of the devastating US Supreme Court Dobbs decision, which overturned the constitutional right to an abortion, I have the honor to speak with Libby Schaaf, former two term mayor of Oakland and interim executive director of Emerge California. We discuss her journey to public office, why we need to elect more pro-choice women…

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26: Going into the #CABudget May Revision 2023: What you need to know 54:45

1y ago54:45

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The most anticipated - and dreaded - event of this year's #CABudget process is on the horizon - the Governor's "May Revision" 😱 This is an annual event in which the Governor updates his January budget proposal to account for updated revenue estimates and economic conditions. For FY 23-24, it is almost certain advocates will face far worse proposed …

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25: Inside the First 100 Days in Office with Assemblymember Damon Connolly 35:28

1y ago35:28

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I had the pleasure of sitting down with Assemblymember Damon Connolly, who represents California's 12th Assembly District, for a spirited conversation recapping his first 100 days in office. Elected to the Assembly in November 2022, Connolly is one of 34 new members of the California Legislature. This is a record number and that turnover will only …

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24. Trans joy is an act of resistance with guests Evan Minton and Rainer Apostol 30:27

1+ y ago30:27

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Today begins Transgender Week of Visibility and to celebrate I am sharing this special episode with guests Evan Minton and Rainer Apostol. Evan (he/they) is a nationally recognized transgender advocate whose fight for gender-affirming healthcare reached the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a national co-Chair of the Transgender Advisory Committee of the D…

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23: Fighting Back Against Corporate Greed with guest Tia Orr 27:16

1+ y ago27:16

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If you want to understand the landscape of politics and policy-making at the California Capitol, it's hard to underestimate the role of Labor. In today's episode, I have the honor to speak with Tia Orr, Executive Director of SEIU California, one of the largest labor unions in the state. SEIU represents over 700,000 workers in both the public and pr…

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22: Inside the Campaign That Broke the Rules and Made History with guest Jane Nguyen 28:50

1+ y ago28:50

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If Kenneth Mejia’s groundbreaking campaign for Los Angeles City Controller isn’t on your radar it needs to be. In November 2022, Mejia made history by becoming the first Asian American elected to citywide office in LA. Not only did he win in the second-largest city in the United States, but he also did it in a landslide — earning just over 63% of t…

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21: How You Can Partner With the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls with guest Lauren Babb 20:00

1+ y ago20:00

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I'm happy to share today my excellent conversation with Lauren Babb. Lauren is the chair of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. She is a change-maker and community leader. Last year, she was recognized as one of four black policy movers and shakers by the Women's Foundation. Lauren shares the amazing work that the Commission…

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20: Behind the scenes with Capitol Press Corps reporter Byrhonda Lyons 32:16

1+ y ago32:16

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We all know getting positive press coverage is an essential part of a winning legislative strategy. But for those of us without high-powered PR firms on retainer, where do we even start? Byrhonda Lyons, an investigative reporter with the Sacramento-based news organization Cal Matters, shares her valuable insight on producing national award-winning …

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19. There is a spiritual core to our activism with guest Victor Narro 15:52

1+ y ago15:52

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We are nearly three years into the pandemic. At the same time we face an escalating climate crisis and are fighting to protect democracy from the rising tide of fascism. Add to this our "normal" struggles of every day life and work. We are coping with a lot. Too much. During this traditional time of reflection and rest, I am sharing my conversation…

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18. Getting ready for 2023 California Budget Advocacy with guests Scott Graves, Christopher Sanchez, and Jennifer Fearing 1:06:20

1+ y ago1:06:20

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It's mid November and California budget revenue collections are way below projections. Paired with historically high rates of inflation, the Legislature may be facing a $25 billion deficit in FY 23-24. One big difference from budget deficits of the past, however, is the state has $23 billion saved in rainy day funds. Experts agree: Is the situation…

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17. How to Organize Locally to Make Change in Sacramento with Assemblymember Ash Kalra 23:34

2y ago23:34

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How do you compel lawmakers to take the hard votes needed to pass bold worker's rights and climate action policies when they have Corporate America breathing down their necks? Last fall I had the honor to interview Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-27 - San Jose) during my advocacy webinar “All Politics is Local”: How Communities can Build Political Powe…

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16. Five things you need to know when you lobby the California Budget with guest Jennifer Kent 30:12

2y ago30:12

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Jennifer Kent, knower of all things California health care policy, shares her valuable insight on how the state budget sausage gets made. Currently the CEO of the Kent Group, Jennifer Kent served under three different Governors, most recently as the Director of the California Department of Health Care Services. She’s held leadership roles in the He…

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15. Two Sides of the Same Coin: Why advocates can’t afford to ignore political action with guest Bill Wong 28:30

2y ago28:30

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There are few who can speak on electoral politics in California with as much authority as Bill Wong. As former Political Director for the California Assembly Democrats, Bill led efforts in 2018 and 2020 to build the largest Democratic “giga” majorities in the state Assembly in over a century. He served as a political advisor to Assembly Speaker Ant…

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14. How We Fight Back: California Congressional Races with guest Bryan Blum 15:56

2y ago15:56

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How many times have you heard this? “I know federal elections are important, but I live in California - there’s nothing I can do.” Yes, California is as blue a state as they come. But the reality is pro-Trump extremists are active throughout the state and some of them are members and/or candidates for Congress. In California there are many critical…

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13. How to get people to care what you think with guest Frank Mecca 29:31

2y ago29:31

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Who are the most influential groups in Sacramento? We all know the traditional power players. Organizations that play big in electoral politics. Either they write big campaign checks, mobilize big voter turnout, or perhaps do both. Dig deeper, though, and you’ll see they aren’t the only ones at the Capitol with clout. Just because you don’t partici…

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12. What you didn't learn about politics in high school civics with guest Jovan Agee 32:55

2y ago32:55

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You won’t understand politics until you understand power.How it works. Who has it and who doesn’t. And most important of all, how you grow and use it to get what you want.You know there is inequality and injustice and you want to change it. But how?I had the opportunity to talk at length with Jovan Agee, Founder and CEO of Agee Global Solutions. Jo…

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11. Everything you always wanted to know about California budget advocacy* (*but were afraid to ask) with Senator Sydney Kamlager 29:08

2+ y ago29:08

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Lobbying is not “one size fits all”. As any savvy lobbyist will tell you, securing funding in the California budget is very different from working to get a policy bill signed. You must follow timelines and committees that are separate and distinct from the legislative process. All of this can be intimidating and confusing for advocates, which is wh…

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10. What advocates should know about running for the California Legislature with guest Kipp Mueller 24:28

2+ y ago24:28

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In 2019, Kipp Mueller, a workers' and civil rights attorney, entered the race for California State Senate District 21, challenging incumbent and then Republican Senate Minority Leader Scott Wilk. Encompassing northern Los Angeles county and parts of the High Desert, SD 21 was a Republican stronghold for over a decade but voter registration has been…

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9. Why advocates need to know about the Gann limit with guest Scott Graves 28:07

2+ y ago28:07

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The Gann limit hovers over the California capitol like an ominous cloud on an otherwise sunny day. Despite massive tax revenues and a projected discretionary budget surplus of $20.6 billion (with a strong potential to exceed this amount by $15 billion), the state must abide by an arbitrary spending cap adopted over 40 years ago - the Gann limit. Th…

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8. How to build political power from the ground up with guest Aquilina Soriano Versoza 29:04

2+ y ago29:04

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Before you can build political power you need a base. And Aquilina Soriano Versoza knows exactly how to get it done. Aquilina is co-founder and Executive Director of the Pilipino Workers Center based in Southern California. She is President of the Pilipino Action Center, 501(c)4 sibling organization to the PWC. She is a leader in the California Dom…

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Training New Team Members 29:25

2+ y ago29:25

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7. How we broaden the movement for workers' rights with guest Victor Narro 27:11

2+ y ago27:11

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Is your legislation on the infamous Chamber of Commerce "job killer" list? Is your campaign facing stiff opposition from corporate America with its infinite resources? In a battle of David and Goliath, how can marginalized communities come out on top? Today I am honored to be joined by Victor Narro, a nationally recognized expert on immigrant and l…

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Prison Professors Charitable Corporation 0:55

2+ y ago0:55

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6. How to break through the noise to make the greatest impact with guest Eduardo Martinez 29:40

2+ y ago29:40

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Trying to break through the noise at the California Capitol to get your issue front and center? You're hustling. But why is your message is not resonating? Today I talk with Eduardo Martinez, Legislative Director for the California Labor Federation, who shares his insight - based on years of experience as a legislative staffer - on how to ensure yo…

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5. Beyond the Capitol: How to influence regulation with guest Jaime Schrabeck 28:19

2+ y ago28:19

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Advocacy is not just about lobbying the Legislature or Governor's Office. Advocates should pay attention to the less known but highly impactful "rulemaking process". California agencies adopt, amend, and repeal regulations in order to "implement" the laws adopted by the Legislature. For small business owners, these regulations can have a huge impac…

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4. How advocacy organizations can build their capacity to win with guest Ludovic Blain 40:47

2+ y ago40:47

40:47

There is so much knowledge in my interview with Ludovic Blain I don't know where to start! Mr. Blain is the Executive Director of California Donor Table, a statewide community of donors who pool their funds to make investments in communities of color so they have the power and resources they need to elect people who represent their values and needs…

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3. Raising your community's voice in Sacramento with Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes 28:36

2+ y ago28:36

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There are few lawmakers I admire more than California Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-47). The first Latina to hold this leadership position, Leader Reyes is an unequivocal champion for working families in her district and throughout the state. Her emphatic advice for advocates: remember your true power. You are the ones who send rep…

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2. How to build bipartisan support with Assemblymember Chad Mayes 26:08

2+ y ago26:08

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As any good lobbyist in Sacramento will tell you, at the end the day what matters is getting the 21/41 votes you need to move your bill. This has always been a significant challenge; in our era of toxic political polarization it's can be near impossible. That's why I'm excited to share my recent conversation with Assemblymember Chad Mayes (I - 42).…

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Michael Santos Is An Advocate Podcasts

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