1 00:00:00,020 --> 00:00:01,670 Carol Cox: What is it like to be a woman running for 2 00:00:01,670 --> 00:00:03,980 public office and how to authenticity and 3 00:00:03,980 --> 00:00:05,660 storytelling fit into that? 4 00:00:05,660 --> 00:00:07,280 That's what we're talking about with my 5 00:00:07,310 --> 00:00:09,680 guests, Jennifer Adams and Sarah Henry, on 6 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:11,390 this episode of the Speaking Your Brand 7 00:00:11,390 --> 00:00:18,170 podcast. More and more women are making an 8 00:00:18,170 --> 00:00:20,840 impact by starting businesses, running for 9 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,750 office, and speaking up for what matters. 10 00:00:23,780 --> 00:00:26,030 With my background as a TV political 11 00:00:26,030 --> 00:00:28,910 analyst, entrepreneur, and speaker, I 12 00:00:28,910 --> 00:00:31,340 interview and coach purpose driven women to 13 00:00:31,370 --> 00:00:33,830 shape their brands, grow their companies, 14 00:00:33,830 --> 00:00:36,500 and become recognized as influencers in 15 00:00:36,530 --> 00:00:39,830 their field. This is speaking your brand, 16 00:00:39,860 --> 00:00:42,380 your place to learn how to persuasively 17 00:00:42,380 --> 00:00:46,220 communicate your message to your audience. 18 00:00:46,220 --> 00:00:48,140 Before we get into today's episode, I want to 19 00:00:48,170 --> 00:00:51,020 let you know about our brand new in-person 20 00:00:51,020 --> 00:00:53,630 speaking workshop we're holding in Orlando, 21 00:00:53,630 --> 00:00:57,140 Florida on October 10th, 2020 for early 22 00:00:57,140 --> 00:00:59,300 bird. Pricing is on right now. 23 00:00:59,300 --> 00:01:01,970 If you want to ten x your speaking skills, 24 00:01:01,970 --> 00:01:04,700 both your storytelling and your delivery, 25 00:01:04,700 --> 00:01:07,430 this event is exactly the one you've been 26 00:01:07,430 --> 00:01:09,890 waiting for. If you want to learn how to 27 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,590 lessen those butterflies, those nerves that 28 00:01:12,590 --> 00:01:14,630 sometimes get the best of you before a 29 00:01:14,630 --> 00:01:15,710 speaking engagement. 30 00:01:15,710 --> 00:01:17,840 If you want to learn how to speak 31 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,900 comfortably without notes and without a 32 00:01:20,900 --> 00:01:23,360 script, if you want to develop your 33 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:25,490 storytelling skills so that you can tell 34 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,740 stories in a compelling way to your 35 00:01:27,740 --> 00:01:30,950 audiences, as well as know how to activate 36 00:01:30,950 --> 00:01:33,410 your storytelling with body movement, 37 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,680 strategic pausing, and vocal variation in 38 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:39,440 your delivery. And if you want to boost your 39 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,050 confidence and your stage presence, this is 40 00:01:42,050 --> 00:01:44,210 what you're going to do. At our full day 41 00:01:44,210 --> 00:01:46,970 in-person workshop, you'll get personalized 42 00:01:46,970 --> 00:01:50,420 hands on coaching instruction and feedback. 43 00:01:50,450 --> 00:01:52,910 You'll get to practice on our stage. 44 00:01:52,910 --> 00:01:54,920 We're going to help you develop your key 45 00:01:54,950 --> 00:01:56,990 stories and your talk segments and then, of 46 00:01:57,010 --> 00:01:59,050 course give you feedback as you're 47 00:01:59,050 --> 00:02:01,750 practicing them in a supportive environment 48 00:02:01,750 --> 00:02:04,780 with other women entrepreneurs and leaders. 49 00:02:04,780 --> 00:02:07,540 You also get professional photography of you 50 00:02:07,570 --> 00:02:09,940 speaking that you can use on your website 51 00:02:09,940 --> 00:02:11,710 and on your social media. 52 00:02:11,740 --> 00:02:14,590 Get all of the details and register today as 53 00:02:14,590 --> 00:02:17,170 speaking your brand.com/workshop. 54 00:02:17,170 --> 00:02:18,130 Again, that's speaking your 55 00:02:18,130 --> 00:02:21,820 brand.com/workshop. Now let's get on with 56 00:02:21,820 --> 00:02:24,850 the show. Hi there and welcome to the 57 00:02:24,850 --> 00:02:26,050 Speaking Your Brand podcast. 58 00:02:26,050 --> 00:02:27,370 I'm your host Carol Cox. 59 00:02:27,370 --> 00:02:30,550 Today I am thrilled to bring to you two 60 00:02:30,580 --> 00:02:33,160 women who are running for office in the 61 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:35,650 Central Florida Orlando area. 62 00:02:35,650 --> 00:02:37,690 We're going to dive into what it's like to 63 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:39,880 run for office, what it's like to run for 64 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:43,270 office as a woman, the newfound energy and 65 00:02:43,270 --> 00:02:45,610 enthusiasm around Kamala Harris being the 66 00:02:45,610 --> 00:02:47,890 presumptive Democratic nominee. 67 00:02:47,890 --> 00:02:49,780 This episode is airing just as the 68 00:02:49,780 --> 00:02:52,030 Democratic National Convention is kicking 69 00:02:52,030 --> 00:02:54,430 off. So really, the entire country is going 70 00:02:54,430 --> 00:02:57,400 to be Reintroduced to Kamala Harris this 71 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:59,890 week. And I know so many of us are excited 72 00:02:59,890 --> 00:03:01,570 about that. So let me tell you about the two 73 00:03:01,570 --> 00:03:03,400 women I have joining us today. 74 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,290 Jennifer Adams is running for the US 75 00:03:05,290 --> 00:03:07,990 Congress in Florida's District seven. 76 00:03:07,990 --> 00:03:09,910 She's a Florida native who grew up in 77 00:03:09,910 --> 00:03:12,610 Central Florida. She's a mom and a small 78 00:03:12,610 --> 00:03:15,430 business owner, and she has a very specific 79 00:03:15,430 --> 00:03:18,250 story about what happened to her and her 80 00:03:18,250 --> 00:03:21,160 family that really drove her decision to run 81 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,260 for Congress. And she'll share some of that 82 00:03:23,260 --> 00:03:25,810 here today. Sarah Henry is running for the 83 00:03:25,810 --> 00:03:28,780 state House in Florida's District 38, also 84 00:03:28,780 --> 00:03:31,000 in the Central Florida Orlando area. 85 00:03:31,030 --> 00:03:33,280 Sarah has worked in nonprofits throughout 86 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:35,140 her career and development, project 87 00:03:35,140 --> 00:03:37,450 management, communications, compliance and 88 00:03:37,450 --> 00:03:39,610 marketing, and her passion for political 89 00:03:39,610 --> 00:03:42,190 advocacy was born at a young age. 90 00:03:42,190 --> 00:03:43,960 I love this part. With an elementary school 91 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:46,120 assignment about the laws she would change 92 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:48,100 as the president of the United States. 93 00:03:48,100 --> 00:03:50,080 I was also that girl who thought, sure, I 94 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:51,850 could grow up to be president one day. 95 00:03:51,850 --> 00:03:52,870 Why not? 96 00:03:52,900 --> 00:03:55,690 Welcome to the podcast, Jennifer and Sarah. 97 00:03:56,350 --> 00:03:57,700 Thank you so much. 98 00:03:58,060 --> 00:04:00,010 All right, so, Sarah, let's kick it off with 99 00:04:00,010 --> 00:04:02,740 you. Why did you decide to run for office? 100 00:04:02,740 --> 00:04:04,840 Sounds like the seed was planted at a very 101 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,300 young age. But what prompted you to run more 102 00:04:07,300 --> 00:04:09,400 recently? First of all. 103 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:10,840 Sarah Henry: Thank you so much for having us. 104 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:12,460 I know both Jennifer and I are really 105 00:04:12,460 --> 00:04:14,410 excited about kind of the work we're doing 106 00:04:14,410 --> 00:04:16,750 here in Central Florida, and in my case, in 107 00:04:16,750 --> 00:04:18,190 Seminole County, to organize our 108 00:04:18,190 --> 00:04:21,250 communities. I think for me, I grew up in a 109 00:04:21,250 --> 00:04:24,370 very political and engaged family. 110 00:04:24,370 --> 00:04:26,470 I was going to the ballot box with my 111 00:04:26,470 --> 00:04:28,240 parents as soon as I could walk. 112 00:04:28,270 --> 00:04:30,730 And I think that's a really critical piece 113 00:04:30,730 --> 00:04:34,150 as far as being engaged early on in the 114 00:04:34,150 --> 00:04:36,640 process of that kind of decision making 115 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,220 inside your family unit, but also, you know, 116 00:04:39,250 --> 00:04:41,200 for your community and by extension, for 117 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,840 your country. And then when I moved to 118 00:04:43,870 --> 00:04:46,630 Florida, I'm a transplant to the Sunshine 119 00:04:46,630 --> 00:04:49,180 State, as are, of course, so many voters 120 00:04:49,180 --> 00:04:50,740 across Central Florida. 121 00:04:50,770 --> 00:04:54,100 I really was excited to continue that 122 00:04:54,100 --> 00:04:57,070 engagement. I volunteered on campaigns 123 00:04:57,070 --> 00:04:59,440 during undergrad, and then when I came to 124 00:04:59,470 --> 00:05:02,470 Seminole County, joined the Young Democrats 125 00:05:02,500 --> 00:05:04,630 of Seminole County, and eventually served as 126 00:05:04,630 --> 00:05:06,910 the president of that group, which was just 127 00:05:06,910 --> 00:05:09,250 a wonderful way to continue that advocacy 128 00:05:09,250 --> 00:05:12,040 with folks that I shared a lot of 129 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,440 similarities with as far as being in the 130 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,620 same communities and really further develop 131 00:05:17,620 --> 00:05:19,720 that advocacy and engagement. 132 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:21,820 But one of the most critical pieces of 133 00:05:21,820 --> 00:05:23,860 making the decision to run for office was 134 00:05:23,860 --> 00:05:25,510 actually just being asked. 135 00:05:25,510 --> 00:05:27,670 I think that's something we talk a lot about 136 00:05:27,670 --> 00:05:30,940 as women candidates, is that often women 137 00:05:30,940 --> 00:05:34,300 have to be asked more times to to run, and I 138 00:05:34,300 --> 00:05:37,750 think it is often that kind of abstract. 139 00:05:37,750 --> 00:05:39,790 Oh, that's something I could do someday. 140 00:05:39,790 --> 00:05:42,610 And in my case, that someday really quickly 141 00:05:42,610 --> 00:05:44,740 turned into, oh, let's think about next 142 00:05:44,740 --> 00:05:48,070 month, because it was an opportunity to 143 00:05:48,100 --> 00:05:51,600 really develop a seat that needed investment 144 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,690 and a community that deserved representation 145 00:05:54,690 --> 00:05:57,540 in Tallahassee that did care very deeply 146 00:05:57,540 --> 00:06:00,030 about their neighbors and about their the 147 00:06:00,030 --> 00:06:02,970 needs of folks, which is, unfortunately, 148 00:06:02,970 --> 00:06:04,860 something that we don't really see in the 149 00:06:04,860 --> 00:06:06,630 Florida legislature right now. 150 00:06:06,690 --> 00:06:09,240 Carol Cox: Sarah. I'd love to hear that someone asked 151 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,460 you and encouraged you to run and that you 152 00:06:11,460 --> 00:06:13,740 said yes, because I always encourage women 153 00:06:13,740 --> 00:06:14,820 to run. And what do they say? 154 00:06:14,850 --> 00:06:16,590 Oh, no, it's not a good time. 155 00:06:16,620 --> 00:06:17,910 I'm like, it's never a good time. 156 00:06:17,940 --> 00:06:20,760 Sarah Henry: That's right. It certainly there's always 157 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:21,930 something else going on. 158 00:06:21,930 --> 00:06:24,690 I can tell you. I was brand, a brand new 159 00:06:24,690 --> 00:06:28,530 newlywed and came home and told my husband 160 00:06:28,890 --> 00:06:30,510 somebody called the state. 161 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:32,640 Someone at the state level had called, and 162 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,670 they're interested in me and think this seat 163 00:06:35,670 --> 00:06:37,080 is a really good opportunity. 164 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:39,240 And I'm sure this is exactly what you plan 165 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:41,010 to be doing for the first two years of our 166 00:06:41,010 --> 00:06:43,590 marriage. But you. 167 00:06:43,590 --> 00:06:44,910 Carol Cox: Survived this. You're good. 168 00:06:44,940 --> 00:06:45,480 Right? Yes. 169 00:06:46,110 --> 00:06:47,580 Sarah Henry: Yes. Yeah. 170 00:06:47,790 --> 00:06:50,370 Carol Cox: All right, Jennifer, now, I know that you've 171 00:06:50,370 --> 00:06:53,220 also been involved in advocacy work, and 172 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,100 your story and your experience very much led 173 00:06:56,100 --> 00:06:58,200 you into the decision to run for Congress. 174 00:06:58,200 --> 00:06:59,700 So can you tell us about that? 175 00:07:00,660 --> 00:07:03,930 Jennifer Adams: Absolutely. Thanks very much for having me. 176 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:05,430 I really appreciate it. 177 00:07:05,460 --> 00:07:08,040 And it's always nice to be amongst other 178 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:11,070 women talking about things like this that 179 00:07:11,070 --> 00:07:12,660 not a lot of women typically do. 180 00:07:12,660 --> 00:07:14,520 So I appreciate it very much. 181 00:07:14,550 --> 00:07:16,890 So I stepped up to run in Florida's seventh 182 00:07:16,890 --> 00:07:18,990 Congressional District, which is actually 183 00:07:18,990 --> 00:07:21,120 one of the most flippable congressional 184 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:22,260 seats in Florida. 185 00:07:22,260 --> 00:07:24,780 And I come at this from a little bit of a 186 00:07:24,780 --> 00:07:26,130 different space. 187 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,800 I never thought I'd be in politics. 188 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:31,140 That was not something that was on my radar. 189 00:07:31,170 --> 00:07:34,560 I was a sports broadcaster, and then I went 190 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:36,780 into being a small business owner, owned my 191 00:07:36,810 --> 00:07:40,350 own store with my sister and had kids. 192 00:07:40,350 --> 00:07:43,770 And then the policies and the legal system, 193 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:46,740 though, impacted my life in a way that I 194 00:07:46,740 --> 00:07:50,310 wasn't able to get equal protections like I 195 00:07:50,310 --> 00:07:52,290 had learned about. I was doing laundry one 196 00:07:52,290 --> 00:07:54,600 day. I went in and was looking, and my 197 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:56,610 husband at the times gym bag came across 198 00:07:56,610 --> 00:08:00,570 pills that were in a envelope and went and 199 00:08:00,570 --> 00:08:02,070 googled them on the computer to find out 200 00:08:02,070 --> 00:08:03,090 what they were. 201 00:08:03,090 --> 00:08:06,210 And when I saw that they were synthetic 202 00:08:06,210 --> 00:08:09,240 heroin, OxyContin, that was the last straw, 203 00:08:09,270 --> 00:08:12,120 had been going through abuse and domestic 204 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:16,530 violence and kept getting the gamut of 205 00:08:16,530 --> 00:08:19,260 questions or statements from others will 206 00:08:19,260 --> 00:08:21,330 either surely it can't be that bad? 207 00:08:21,330 --> 00:08:23,460 Or why don't you just leave? 208 00:08:23,460 --> 00:08:26,070 Or can you try to work it out and all of 209 00:08:26,070 --> 00:08:28,290 these things? And that was my breaking 210 00:08:28,290 --> 00:08:30,720 point. Knowing that I had young children and 211 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,180 wasn't going to subject them to be around 212 00:08:33,180 --> 00:08:34,770 that or think that was a healthy 213 00:08:34,770 --> 00:08:35,850 relationship. 214 00:08:35,850 --> 00:08:37,800 And that's something that's not uncommon. 215 00:08:37,830 --> 00:08:40,110 I later came to find out that nearly 1 in 3 216 00:08:40,110 --> 00:08:42,060 women will experience domestic violence in 217 00:08:42,060 --> 00:08:45,020 their lifetime, and so I knew that if it was 218 00:08:45,020 --> 00:08:47,240 happening to me, it was happening to others. 219 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,150 And so I'm an action oriented person, I was. 220 00:08:50,180 --> 00:08:52,130 I grew up being a competitive athlete, and 221 00:08:52,130 --> 00:08:56,210 that was something that I always wanted to 222 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,510 turn pain or inactivity into something 223 00:08:59,510 --> 00:09:02,330 purpose driven and having a greater goal. 224 00:09:02,330 --> 00:09:05,030 And I ended up joining the League of Women 225 00:09:05,030 --> 00:09:08,630 Voters and started doing advocacy work in 226 00:09:08,660 --> 00:09:10,670 that space, went back to school and got 227 00:09:10,670 --> 00:09:12,770 master's degrees in policy and another in 228 00:09:12,770 --> 00:09:14,720 legal studies, became a Florida Supreme 229 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:18,020 Court certified circuit court mediator and 230 00:09:18,020 --> 00:09:20,120 helped write and get passed a bill last year 231 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:22,160 in Florida with bipartisan support called 232 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:24,800 Grayson's Law, that stemmed out of the 233 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:28,550 unfortunate suicide and then death of a four 234 00:09:28,580 --> 00:09:30,170 year old little boy whose mother tried to 235 00:09:30,170 --> 00:09:31,280 get a protective order. 236 00:09:31,310 --> 00:09:33,020 And by the time she did, it was too late. 237 00:09:33,020 --> 00:09:35,360 And knowing that if we can get legislation 238 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:37,400 passed here in Florida, we can do it 239 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,950 anywhere, and looked at different things 240 00:09:39,950 --> 00:09:41,360 that have been asked to run for a couple of 241 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:43,910 different seats. And then when I looked into 242 00:09:43,940 --> 00:09:46,220 this congressional seat that used to be held 243 00:09:46,220 --> 00:09:49,250 by Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy, I looked 244 00:09:49,250 --> 00:09:51,620 at the data, looked at the person who was in 245 00:09:51,620 --> 00:09:54,020 this seat and was like, this is a winnable 246 00:09:54,050 --> 00:09:56,210 seat. And you have to have the right 247 00:09:56,210 --> 00:09:57,830 candidate. You have to a lot of things have 248 00:09:57,830 --> 00:10:00,710 to align. And when I took a look at that and 249 00:10:00,710 --> 00:10:03,980 then the incumbent, who's this extremist who 250 00:10:04,010 --> 00:10:06,410 is not representative of this community, as 251 00:10:06,410 --> 00:10:08,570 somebody who's a native Floridian, somebody 252 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:11,000 who's grown up here, somebody that doesn't 253 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,120 live in our state, somebody who is very 254 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:16,700 extreme, not representing all of the people 255 00:10:16,700 --> 00:10:19,910 in this district, somebody who sells arms to 256 00:10:19,940 --> 00:10:22,700 foreign countries that he will not disclose. 257 00:10:22,700 --> 00:10:25,490 I was like, this is my congressperson. 258 00:10:25,490 --> 00:10:27,410 This is not okay. We deserve and can do so 259 00:10:27,410 --> 00:10:31,670 much better. I stepped up and here we are 260 00:10:31,670 --> 00:10:34,130 and I, we've done a lot of work. 261 00:10:34,130 --> 00:10:35,750 We've been able to make a lot of progress. 262 00:10:35,780 --> 00:10:37,970 Recent polling shows we're already within 263 00:10:37,970 --> 00:10:40,940 the margin of error to to win and beat this 264 00:10:40,970 --> 00:10:42,740 guy and take back this seat. 265 00:10:42,740 --> 00:10:45,410 And with abortion and reproductive 266 00:10:45,410 --> 00:10:47,720 healthcare and freedoms being on the ballot 267 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:50,660 in Florida, it's energized a lot of women 268 00:10:50,660 --> 00:10:52,700 and a lot of men who support women and 269 00:10:52,700 --> 00:10:55,490 believe in bodily autonomy and believe in 270 00:10:55,490 --> 00:10:56,660 equality for everybody. 271 00:10:56,690 --> 00:10:58,130 Just really, really thankful for the 272 00:10:58,130 --> 00:11:00,710 opportunity to have the platform, to be able 273 00:11:00,710 --> 00:11:03,350 to talk about things that are impacting all 274 00:11:03,350 --> 00:11:05,510 of us, to then really put forward some 275 00:11:05,510 --> 00:11:06,800 common sense, right. 276 00:11:06,830 --> 00:11:09,230 Be collaborative and to champion issues and 277 00:11:09,230 --> 00:11:12,290 solutions for the problems that that all of 278 00:11:12,290 --> 00:11:13,790 us face every day. 279 00:11:14,060 --> 00:11:15,710 Carol Cox: Jennifer. Well done. 280 00:11:15,710 --> 00:11:18,020 That was like your mini stump speech, which 281 00:11:18,020 --> 00:11:20,390 I have heard before because we did a 282 00:11:20,420 --> 00:11:22,760 workshop for you all and a debate prep 283 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:25,100 session here in person in Orlando, which was 284 00:11:25,100 --> 00:11:27,530 a lot of fun. So let me dig into that a 285 00:11:27,530 --> 00:11:29,270 little bit about creating your stump 286 00:11:29,270 --> 00:11:32,030 speeches, because for the women who listen 287 00:11:32,030 --> 00:11:33,860 to this podcast, they're not necessarily 288 00:11:33,860 --> 00:11:36,350 running for office, although you should if 289 00:11:36,350 --> 00:11:37,760 you're listening, this is your ass. 290 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:39,520 We have three. You have three women who are 291 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:41,470 now tapping you on the shoulder to do so. 292 00:11:41,470 --> 00:11:43,120 But even if you're not running for office or 293 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:44,980 running for office yet, you still have to 294 00:11:45,010 --> 00:11:47,530 work on your messaging, your storytelling, 295 00:11:47,530 --> 00:11:49,810 putting together a cohesive idea, and 296 00:11:49,810 --> 00:11:51,430 persuading your audience. 297 00:11:51,460 --> 00:11:52,780 Now, obviously, Sarah and Jennifer have to 298 00:11:52,810 --> 00:11:55,150 persuade them to vote for them and to donate 299 00:11:55,150 --> 00:11:57,760 to them. So let me go back to you, Sarah. 300 00:11:57,760 --> 00:11:59,800 When you think about creating your stump 301 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:01,900 speech, your message, you obviously have to 302 00:12:01,900 --> 00:12:04,600 tailor it to different audiences and even in 303 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:06,220 a way that those of us who are, say, doing 304 00:12:06,220 --> 00:12:07,630 business presentations, we don't have to 305 00:12:07,630 --> 00:12:09,820 tailor them quite the way that you do. 306 00:12:09,820 --> 00:12:11,080 So how do you approach that? 307 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:12,670 And tell me about the different audiences 308 00:12:12,670 --> 00:12:14,380 that you have spoken to? 309 00:12:15,220 --> 00:12:18,340 Sarah Henry: Yeah, I think we had a fantastic opportunity 310 00:12:18,340 --> 00:12:20,350 to work together and hone some of these 311 00:12:20,350 --> 00:12:21,790 elements a little bit. 312 00:12:21,790 --> 00:12:25,030 I think when it comes to political speaking, 313 00:12:25,030 --> 00:12:29,350 there are so many unique audiences, even 314 00:12:29,350 --> 00:12:31,390 just within the same kind of groups. 315 00:12:31,390 --> 00:12:34,600 We could be speaking to donors more broadly, 316 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,880 but that looks very different when it's a 317 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:39,550 one on one conversation with a donor, as 318 00:12:39,550 --> 00:12:41,380 opposed to when it's speaking to an entire 319 00:12:41,380 --> 00:12:44,200 room of folks who could give versus with 320 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,540 voters. When we're speaking at a debate, as 321 00:12:46,540 --> 00:12:48,820 opposed to showing up on someone's door. 322 00:12:48,850 --> 00:12:51,430 I think really when we speak 1 to 1 with 323 00:12:51,430 --> 00:12:54,190 folks, for me, it's important to tailor my 324 00:12:54,190 --> 00:12:57,490 message to what they care most deeply about. 325 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:00,490 We know that there are so many issues facing 326 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:02,920 Floridians and folks here in Seminole County 327 00:13:02,950 --> 00:13:05,200 every day, that it's sometimes hard to 328 00:13:05,230 --> 00:13:07,180 narrow down what is going to be that number 329 00:13:07,180 --> 00:13:09,370 one issue that someone is most concerned 330 00:13:09,370 --> 00:13:11,710 about that day. And for me, I typically 331 00:13:11,710 --> 00:13:14,170 start the conversation by asking, I feel 332 00:13:14,170 --> 00:13:16,210 like there's no way to really know until 333 00:13:16,210 --> 00:13:18,040 you've asked them. And certainly when you're 334 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:19,750 at someone's store or having that kind of 335 00:13:19,780 --> 00:13:23,200 one on one phone call, being able to know 336 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:26,590 what keeps them up at night lets us hone our 337 00:13:26,590 --> 00:13:30,370 message. And the reason giving or voting is 338 00:13:30,370 --> 00:13:33,460 so critical now and this November, 339 00:13:33,490 --> 00:13:36,010 respectively. It really allows us to build 340 00:13:36,010 --> 00:13:39,310 that conversation, and that does require 341 00:13:39,340 --> 00:13:42,430 keeping a lot of statistics in your head for 342 00:13:42,430 --> 00:13:44,500 every issue that they might come up with. 343 00:13:44,500 --> 00:13:46,690 And for me, often it's phone numbers, either 344 00:13:46,690 --> 00:13:48,760 to our current representative or to the 345 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,430 school board, or folks who can take action 346 00:13:51,430 --> 00:13:54,400 today to help resolve the issues that folks 347 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:56,080 are concerned about or start to address 348 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:58,990 them, as well as encouraging and showing 349 00:13:59,020 --> 00:14:00,910 what we can do when we do bring new 350 00:14:00,910 --> 00:14:03,370 leadership to Tallahassee in order to 351 00:14:03,370 --> 00:14:04,570 address some of those issues. 352 00:14:04,570 --> 00:14:07,510 So I think that really taking the time to 353 00:14:07,540 --> 00:14:10,810 understand the specific driver that an 354 00:14:10,810 --> 00:14:14,590 individual donor or voter has to either pull 355 00:14:14,590 --> 00:14:17,440 out that checkbook or get to the polls, um, 356 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,800 really allows us to build a little bit of a 357 00:14:21,310 --> 00:14:25,060 puzzle to get to what they're most most 358 00:14:25,060 --> 00:14:26,290 going to be motivated by. 359 00:14:26,290 --> 00:14:28,960 And that's something our standard we try to 360 00:14:28,990 --> 00:14:31,720 keep. I try to keep a good understanding of 361 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:34,810 15 or 20 issues that my community is 362 00:14:34,810 --> 00:14:37,120 concerned about, and what the next steps 363 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:39,610 could be if we had stronger leadership and 364 00:14:39,610 --> 00:14:42,220 then build from there, especially in kind of 365 00:14:42,250 --> 00:14:43,480 those larger group rooms. 366 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:45,580 We pulled the five issues that we think 367 00:14:45,610 --> 00:14:47,290 folks in that space are going to be the most 368 00:14:47,290 --> 00:14:49,330 concerned about and build our speech around 369 00:14:49,330 --> 00:14:51,970 those, but it's definitely a lot of a lot of 370 00:14:51,970 --> 00:14:54,700 understanding and working hard to understand 371 00:14:54,700 --> 00:14:56,350 what folks are worried about. 372 00:14:56,650 --> 00:14:58,360 Carol Cox: And, Sarah, I remember that one of the 373 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:00,430 workshops you had either a printout or a 374 00:15:00,460 --> 00:15:02,020 note cards where you had like different 375 00:15:02,020 --> 00:15:04,120 parts of your speech and you would pick and 376 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:06,820 choose based on who the audience was, right? 377 00:15:06,850 --> 00:15:07,450 Yes. 378 00:15:07,450 --> 00:15:10,480 Sarah Henry: Yeah. So the intro and the clothes are remain 379 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:11,740 very similar. Of course. 380 00:15:11,740 --> 00:15:13,480 I've been running for office is the second 381 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:15,310 time I've run for this seat, and there are 382 00:15:15,310 --> 00:15:17,170 some rooms that are about sick and tired of 383 00:15:17,170 --> 00:15:20,770 my intro stories and sharing new stories 384 00:15:20,770 --> 00:15:23,440 from doors or experiences we've had on the 385 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:26,350 campaign trail is is much appreciated, I 386 00:15:26,350 --> 00:15:28,900 think, by some of my more frequent 387 00:15:28,900 --> 00:15:31,420 attendees. But yeah, as far as some of the 388 00:15:31,420 --> 00:15:34,620 policy issues. We do try to build from a 389 00:15:34,620 --> 00:15:37,380 robust understanding down to a couple of 390 00:15:37,380 --> 00:15:39,600 issues that are most critical that day. 391 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:41,700 And often that comes, you know, with what 392 00:15:41,700 --> 00:15:43,650 the headlines are too great. 393 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:45,660 Carol Cox: All right. And Jennifer, I remember that the 394 00:15:45,660 --> 00:15:47,700 storytelling workshop that we did, we had 395 00:15:47,700 --> 00:15:50,250 each of you deliver a mini version of your 396 00:15:50,250 --> 00:15:52,740 stump speech. And you did that similar to 397 00:15:52,770 --> 00:15:54,570 what you did for us here. 398 00:15:54,570 --> 00:15:57,510 But then we had you say, okay, like, I want 399 00:15:57,540 --> 00:16:01,020 to hear that one moment, that one day where 400 00:16:01,020 --> 00:16:03,600 you realized that the situation with your 401 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:05,400 husband, where you had that breaking point 402 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,110 where you said, like, no more, and then that 403 00:16:07,110 --> 00:16:08,880 eventually led you to run for office. 404 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:11,490 And I remember when you told us that story 405 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:15,120 of finding that envelope in his gym bag, and 406 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:16,620 you said it just very similar to how you 407 00:16:16,620 --> 00:16:17,700 said it here today. 408 00:16:17,700 --> 00:16:21,480 You could hear a pin drop in the room of us 409 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:23,190 as you shared that story. 410 00:16:23,190 --> 00:16:25,530 And we're like, yes, that is it. 411 00:16:25,530 --> 00:16:27,630 That's what you need to lead with, because 412 00:16:27,630 --> 00:16:30,540 that pulls us in and makes us understand you 413 00:16:30,540 --> 00:16:32,730 and relate to you and understand why this 414 00:16:32,730 --> 00:16:34,590 matters so much, not just to you and to your 415 00:16:34,620 --> 00:16:36,960 children, but to so many other women and 416 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:39,510 families out there. So how did it feel to 417 00:16:39,540 --> 00:16:42,480 tell that story, and how does it feel now to 418 00:16:42,510 --> 00:16:45,450 to make it front and center of when you do 419 00:16:45,450 --> 00:16:47,250 go and deliver and talk to different 420 00:16:47,250 --> 00:16:48,240 audiences? 421 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:53,640 Jennifer Adams: Yeah. So it's liberating in the sense that 422 00:16:53,670 --> 00:16:55,920 things that at a certain time and point 423 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,980 where especially if you experience abuse, 424 00:16:58,980 --> 00:17:03,360 you feel ashamed, you feel like it was your 425 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:05,040 fault. These are things that you know, that 426 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:07,140 people that experienced it are told over and 427 00:17:07,140 --> 00:17:08,670 over and over again, right? 428 00:17:08,670 --> 00:17:10,680 Especially if you have a legal system that 429 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:14,790 really is enabling abuse, right, instead of 430 00:17:14,790 --> 00:17:16,200 protecting individuals. 431 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:19,080 So it's liberating in that sense. 432 00:17:19,230 --> 00:17:22,500 It's as a for somebody who's so used to 433 00:17:22,530 --> 00:17:24,780 advocating for others or advocating for my 434 00:17:24,780 --> 00:17:29,610 children, not advocating for myself, it that 435 00:17:29,610 --> 00:17:32,100 has taken some time to get used to talking 436 00:17:32,100 --> 00:17:37,470 about myself, but trying to connect it to 437 00:17:37,500 --> 00:17:41,250 the bigger picture is something that is very 438 00:17:41,250 --> 00:17:42,420 powerful when it happens. 439 00:17:42,420 --> 00:17:44,430 But getting to that point for me at least, 440 00:17:44,430 --> 00:17:46,020 wasn't very easy, right? 441 00:17:46,050 --> 00:17:50,070 Because I am a self-professed policy nerd. 442 00:17:50,100 --> 00:17:53,160 I love talking about like, the numbers, the 443 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,350 statistics, the research, all of that. 444 00:17:55,350 --> 00:17:57,930 But it takes that human connection, right? 445 00:17:57,930 --> 00:17:59,070 That part of it. 446 00:17:59,070 --> 00:18:03,810 And that's something that is really 447 00:18:03,810 --> 00:18:05,970 important. I would say, within connecting 448 00:18:05,970 --> 00:18:07,920 with people, within developing that brand, 449 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:10,230 within getting people to want to listen to 450 00:18:10,260 --> 00:18:13,950 you. And at the same time, it's for me 451 00:18:13,980 --> 00:18:15,750 probably has been one of the most difficult 452 00:18:15,750 --> 00:18:16,500 things. 453 00:18:16,890 --> 00:18:18,930 Carol Cox: Mhm. I am so grateful that you're doing it. 454 00:18:18,930 --> 00:18:20,700 I really do think you're helping so many 455 00:18:20,700 --> 00:18:22,590 people out there when they hear your story 456 00:18:22,590 --> 00:18:24,330 and they, like you said, they know that 457 00:18:24,360 --> 00:18:26,700 they're not alone and not to feel shame 458 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:28,430 about something like this. 459 00:18:28,460 --> 00:18:31,790 Now, I want us to talk about the importance 460 00:18:31,790 --> 00:18:34,160 of authenticity as a woman running for 461 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:37,220 office, which has not always been easy for 462 00:18:37,220 --> 00:18:39,260 women. Like we think if you say the word 463 00:18:39,260 --> 00:18:42,350 politician, what comes to mind in your head, 464 00:18:42,380 --> 00:18:45,530 right? A guy, a white guy in a suit, running 465 00:18:45,530 --> 00:18:47,630 for office, delivering his stump speech and 466 00:18:47,630 --> 00:18:49,400 his booming low voice. 467 00:18:49,430 --> 00:18:51,200 Right. That is the image that we have. 468 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:53,060 And obviously we're seeing more and more 469 00:18:53,060 --> 00:18:54,830 women run for office, which I think is 470 00:18:54,830 --> 00:18:57,170 changing that default image that we have. 471 00:18:57,170 --> 00:18:58,280 And of course, as I mentioned in the 472 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:00,290 introduction, we have Vice President Kamala 473 00:19:00,290 --> 00:19:03,320 Harris, who is the presumptive about to be, 474 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:05,660 I would assume, this week that this airs the 475 00:19:05,660 --> 00:19:07,730 Democratic nominee for president. 476 00:19:07,730 --> 00:19:09,770 And I number one, I feel like we've come a 477 00:19:09,770 --> 00:19:12,740 long way, even since 2016, when Hillary 478 00:19:12,740 --> 00:19:15,410 Clinton ran for office as the first woman to 479 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:18,710 run on a major party ticket as a nominee. 480 00:19:18,710 --> 00:19:21,830 But really, what I have seen in since Kamala 481 00:19:21,830 --> 00:19:24,170 Harris became the presumptive nominee is the 482 00:19:24,170 --> 00:19:27,950 surge of energy enthusiasm over $200 million 483 00:19:27,950 --> 00:19:31,220 donated from people, many of them first time 484 00:19:31,220 --> 00:19:33,650 donors, in the first week that this 485 00:19:33,650 --> 00:19:36,620 happened. Tens of thousands of people coming 486 00:19:36,620 --> 00:19:39,230 out to volunteer to organize for her. 487 00:19:39,230 --> 00:19:41,570 And then, of course, there's the memes, 488 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:44,120 right? The coconut tree story, the brat 489 00:19:44,120 --> 00:19:45,710 song, all of those things. 490 00:19:45,710 --> 00:19:48,080 Thinking about you, Sarah and Jennifer as a 491 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:50,030 woman running for office, having a very 492 00:19:50,030 --> 00:19:53,000 public presence, having a very public voice. 493 00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:55,820 What have you what have been maybe some of 494 00:19:55,820 --> 00:19:58,130 the the advantages that you have had, and 495 00:19:58,130 --> 00:20:00,500 have there been any challenges that you have 496 00:20:00,500 --> 00:20:02,570 also faced? And, Sarah, I'll start with you. 497 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:06,470 Sarah Henry: Yeah. I think for one, it's harder to raise 498 00:20:06,470 --> 00:20:09,560 money as a woman. That's just like the way 499 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:11,540 the name of the game, unfortunately in 500 00:20:11,540 --> 00:20:13,760 politics, is that running for office costs a 501 00:20:13,790 --> 00:20:15,950 lot of money, and statistically it's harder 502 00:20:15,950 --> 00:20:17,780 to raise that kind of money as a female 503 00:20:17,780 --> 00:20:20,390 candidate. That doesn't mean we don't work 504 00:20:20,390 --> 00:20:23,540 exceptionally hard to combat that statistic. 505 00:20:23,540 --> 00:20:24,950 And certainly we do. 506 00:20:24,950 --> 00:20:26,870 And I know Jennifer and I could regale you 507 00:20:26,870 --> 00:20:29,420 with tales of miserable and never ending 508 00:20:29,420 --> 00:20:31,850 call time hours to raise those dollars, but 509 00:20:31,850 --> 00:20:34,640 we'll spare you the pain by association. 510 00:20:34,670 --> 00:20:37,460 I think that when it comes to being 511 00:20:37,460 --> 00:20:39,950 authentic, like I said, I have run for the 512 00:20:39,950 --> 00:20:41,810 seat twice in 2022. 513 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:44,360 I ran and lost by just 3000 votes. 514 00:20:44,360 --> 00:20:46,340 So very close in a year. 515 00:20:46,370 --> 00:20:48,410 That was pretty rough for challengers in 516 00:20:48,410 --> 00:20:52,010 Florida. And in that time, I feel like I 517 00:20:52,010 --> 00:20:53,870 spent a lot of time on my last campaign 518 00:20:53,870 --> 00:20:56,090 trying to build an image that I thought the 519 00:20:56,090 --> 00:20:57,890 average Seminole County voter would resonate 520 00:20:57,890 --> 00:21:00,260 with in terms of trying to appear a little 521 00:21:00,290 --> 00:21:02,390 bit older. I'm very young to be a candidate 522 00:21:02,390 --> 00:21:06,470 for public office in terms of trying to just 523 00:21:06,470 --> 00:21:08,990 present in a way that that I thought more 524 00:21:08,990 --> 00:21:10,250 people would resonate with. 525 00:21:10,250 --> 00:21:12,410 And this time around, we've really stepped 526 00:21:12,410 --> 00:21:14,450 that back and leaned into a lot more about 527 00:21:14,450 --> 00:21:15,770 who I am. Right? 528 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:16,910 I am a young person. 529 00:21:16,910 --> 00:21:18,020 I am a newlywed. 530 00:21:18,020 --> 00:21:21,260 I am someone who has a fair number of 531 00:21:21,300 --> 00:21:23,190 tattoos and a pierced nose. 532 00:21:23,220 --> 00:21:25,500 We did move to Florida because I was 18 and 533 00:21:25,500 --> 00:21:27,120 thought I was smarter than anybody else who 534 00:21:27,150 --> 00:21:29,190 had ever walked the planet, and so I think 535 00:21:29,190 --> 00:21:32,460 that has been really helpful in terms of not 536 00:21:32,460 --> 00:21:34,140 just building those relationships with 537 00:21:34,140 --> 00:21:36,330 voters, because voters are smart. 538 00:21:36,330 --> 00:21:38,100 Folks understand they can see right through 539 00:21:38,130 --> 00:21:40,050 you when you stand at their door and they 540 00:21:40,050 --> 00:21:41,970 know if they're talking to the real you or a 541 00:21:41,970 --> 00:21:45,060 sham. And so I think that has been one kind 542 00:21:45,060 --> 00:21:47,190 of key piece of why our voter outreach 543 00:21:47,190 --> 00:21:49,860 strategy this cycle has been so successful. 544 00:21:49,860 --> 00:21:51,690 And that and hard work. 545 00:21:51,690 --> 00:21:53,820 We've actually knocked on the doors of over 546 00:21:53,820 --> 00:21:55,860 7500 voters already. 547 00:21:55,980 --> 00:21:59,220 Um, so that is one key piece of that 548 00:21:59,220 --> 00:22:00,960 conversation. But I also think even with 549 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:02,250 donors, it resonates. 550 00:22:02,250 --> 00:22:04,290 People want to feel like they can trust you 551 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,080 with their money and trust that it's going 552 00:22:07,110 --> 00:22:09,030 to be invested in a way that's meaningful 553 00:22:09,030 --> 00:22:10,920 for the community, in a way that builds 554 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:14,100 power in Tallahassee and in Washington, DC. 555 00:22:14,100 --> 00:22:16,260 And being able to be very authentic with 556 00:22:16,260 --> 00:22:17,910 donors, I think, does help those 557 00:22:17,910 --> 00:22:19,110 conversations. 558 00:22:19,140 --> 00:22:20,590 And I think we're seeing it on the national 559 00:22:20,590 --> 00:22:22,270 level too. Folks, even just like the 560 00:22:22,270 --> 00:22:24,640 relationship between Vice President Harris 561 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:27,040 and Doug, the relationship she has with her 562 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:30,220 stepkids, I think like seeing that kind of 563 00:22:30,250 --> 00:22:33,850 helps us build a full picture of who she is, 564 00:22:33,850 --> 00:22:36,430 not just as a candidate, but as a woman and 565 00:22:36,430 --> 00:22:38,170 a loved one, and someone who is that 566 00:22:38,170 --> 00:22:39,940 fearless. And I think that we're seeing that 567 00:22:39,940 --> 00:22:42,220 in it when it comes to voter and volunteer 568 00:22:42,250 --> 00:22:43,840 mobilization. Of course, the money is 569 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:45,400 incredible, but I actually think the more 570 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:47,410 interesting statistics are the numbers of 571 00:22:47,410 --> 00:22:48,610 new volunteers. 572 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:51,970 We saw 11,000 folks express interest in 573 00:22:51,970 --> 00:22:54,010 volunteering here in the state of Florida 574 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:57,100 alone since since President Biden withdrew 575 00:22:57,100 --> 00:22:58,480 from the nomination. 576 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:01,270 So I think that that is really exciting. 577 00:23:01,270 --> 00:23:03,340 I know even just in our own races, we've had 578 00:23:03,340 --> 00:23:05,110 a couple of new volunteers show up in the 579 00:23:05,110 --> 00:23:07,300 last couple of weeks, and the Seminole 580 00:23:07,300 --> 00:23:09,040 County Democratic Party is seeing the same 581 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:11,050 thing. Our office is like bursting at the 582 00:23:11,050 --> 00:23:13,510 seams when it comes to folks looking to 583 00:23:13,540 --> 00:23:15,520 phone, bank and get involved with the 584 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:17,920 campaign in some way, and I think that we're 585 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:20,890 just seeing that continued build of local 586 00:23:20,890 --> 00:23:22,960 power, supported by that kind of national 587 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:24,280 shift in energy. 588 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,100 Carol Cox: And what a valuable lesson, Sarah, because 589 00:23:27,100 --> 00:23:29,080 you have the contrast between when you ran 590 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:31,660 in 2022 versus when you're running now, and 591 00:23:31,660 --> 00:23:33,550 how you felt like you had to be a certain 592 00:23:33,550 --> 00:23:36,730 type of person running for office versus who 593 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:38,230 you are now? And the difference that has 594 00:23:38,230 --> 00:23:38,920 made? 595 00:23:39,130 --> 00:23:41,170 Sarah Henry: I think, yeah, it is a real difference. 596 00:23:41,170 --> 00:23:43,300 And I think part of that is that I didn't 597 00:23:43,300 --> 00:23:46,000 see folks who had that experience running 598 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,580 for office. So it was a lot of a lot of 599 00:23:48,580 --> 00:23:51,040 older, retired, wealthy folks, especially in 600 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:53,530 Florida. Being in the legislature is a full 601 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:55,960 time job with a part time salary. 602 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:58,480 And so you end up with folks who have the 603 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:02,260 financial resources to do that, which is not 604 00:24:02,260 --> 00:24:05,200 usually someone who's 26 years old. 605 00:24:05,230 --> 00:24:07,210 And so I think that is part of it. 606 00:24:07,210 --> 00:24:10,300 But definitely it was a mental shift to say, 607 00:24:10,330 --> 00:24:11,980 okay, yeah, maybe there aren't people who 608 00:24:11,980 --> 00:24:13,420 look like me in the legislature, but that 609 00:24:13,420 --> 00:24:14,800 doesn't mean that there shouldn't be. 610 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:16,570 That doesn't mean that I need to change it. 611 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:17,980 It means that the landscape of the 612 00:24:17,980 --> 00:24:19,600 legislature needs to change. 613 00:24:20,380 --> 00:24:21,730 Carol Cox: Yeah, I love that. 614 00:24:21,730 --> 00:24:25,090 And I also I'll just do a plug now and I'm 615 00:24:25,090 --> 00:24:26,200 going to do a plug again. 616 00:24:26,230 --> 00:24:29,560 Is that how important it is to donate to 617 00:24:29,590 --> 00:24:31,420 women who are running for office? 618 00:24:31,420 --> 00:24:32,860 So for those of you listening. 619 00:24:32,890 --> 00:24:34,150 Donate to Sarah and Jennifer. 620 00:24:34,180 --> 00:24:35,680 You don't have to live in their district to 621 00:24:35,710 --> 00:24:37,330 donate to them. Their links are in the show 622 00:24:37,360 --> 00:24:39,580 notes, so go to their websites and donate to 623 00:24:39,610 --> 00:24:41,440 them. But really find the women who are 624 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:43,330 running for office in your area, whether 625 00:24:43,330 --> 00:24:45,910 it's Congress, state House and State Senate, 626 00:24:45,910 --> 00:24:48,280 County Commission, school board, city 627 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:50,710 commission. I can imagine I've helped women 628 00:24:50,710 --> 00:24:54,190 run for office before to just getting a $50 629 00:24:54,190 --> 00:24:57,220 donation or a $100 donation, much less 630 00:24:57,220 --> 00:24:59,560 maxing out. I can only imagine how 631 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:02,860 validating that feels as someone running for 632 00:25:02,860 --> 00:25:04,900 office, that someone believes in you enough, 633 00:25:04,900 --> 00:25:06,910 especially even a stranger who you've never 634 00:25:06,910 --> 00:25:09,370 even heard of before comes to your website 635 00:25:09,370 --> 00:25:11,620 and donates. So, Jennifer, let me ask you 636 00:25:11,620 --> 00:25:14,640 first about raising money, And then let's go 637 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:16,740 to this question of authenticity as a woman 638 00:25:16,740 --> 00:25:17,910 running for office. 639 00:25:18,990 --> 00:25:21,840 Jennifer Adams: Yes. So the money part is interesting. 640 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:25,110 And it's like you call a bunch of people, 641 00:25:25,110 --> 00:25:28,710 you send out text emails, and I never know 642 00:25:28,710 --> 00:25:30,090 who's going to give and who's not. 643 00:25:30,120 --> 00:25:32,550 That's one thing I have pretty much as a 644 00:25:32,550 --> 00:25:34,980 certainty is I don't know who is going to 645 00:25:34,980 --> 00:25:36,480 give and who is not. 646 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:40,470 And people surprise me all the time, both 647 00:25:40,500 --> 00:25:42,450 good and bad, honestly. 648 00:25:42,450 --> 00:25:44,820 And people, it's usually the people who I 649 00:25:44,820 --> 00:25:47,190 think that will give that don't and vice 650 00:25:47,190 --> 00:25:50,100 versa. A lot of the times, and it's 651 00:25:50,100 --> 00:25:54,750 interesting to see how women can be very 652 00:25:54,750 --> 00:25:56,040 hard on other women. 653 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:59,310 They can really scrutinize and be some of 654 00:25:59,310 --> 00:26:01,830 the more back on that, a little bit more 655 00:26:01,860 --> 00:26:05,040 than than I would have thought initially. 656 00:26:05,070 --> 00:26:07,920 It costs money to run. 657 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:10,170 It costs money to engage with people and to 658 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:12,270 do it in a way that you will win. 659 00:26:12,270 --> 00:26:15,300 So that's what's so important because nobody 660 00:26:15,300 --> 00:26:17,730 can do this alone and be successful. 661 00:26:17,730 --> 00:26:19,110 It takes a team. 662 00:26:19,110 --> 00:26:22,590 And whether people volunteer their time or 663 00:26:22,590 --> 00:26:26,280 volunteer with a skill set that they have in 664 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:30,000 kind, their whatever their craft is, 665 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:33,450 whatever their area of expertise is, money 666 00:26:33,450 --> 00:26:37,140 is another way. But also the social media is 667 00:26:37,140 --> 00:26:41,190 another way that people are are gauging 668 00:26:41,190 --> 00:26:44,310 candidates. So it's an interesting thing 669 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:47,610 because. So in Congress there's less than 7% 670 00:26:48,090 --> 00:26:50,940 moms with school age children serving. 671 00:26:51,060 --> 00:26:54,600 There's less than 25% women serving in 672 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:56,130 Congress. Right. And this is the farthest 673 00:26:56,130 --> 00:26:57,330 we've come. Right. If we're going to get 674 00:26:57,330 --> 00:26:59,700 equality, it's I'm going to be long gone. 675 00:26:59,730 --> 00:27:01,380 We're all going to be long gone before that. 676 00:27:01,380 --> 00:27:02,880 That ever happens if we continue at this 677 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:06,480 rate. Right. But the money part is really 678 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:10,050 important, and our system as a whole is 679 00:27:10,050 --> 00:27:12,750 really not a very fair system in terms of 680 00:27:12,750 --> 00:27:14,040 running for office, right? 681 00:27:14,070 --> 00:27:15,360 Other countries do it differently. 682 00:27:15,360 --> 00:27:17,340 Everybody gets seed money, they get a 683 00:27:17,340 --> 00:27:19,050 certain amount. There's lots of different 684 00:27:19,050 --> 00:27:20,670 ways that that some of the other countries 685 00:27:20,670 --> 00:27:24,270 do it. Our system is set up like it still is 686 00:27:24,270 --> 00:27:27,480 the same way. It's for typically white men 687 00:27:27,510 --> 00:27:31,140 who whose jobs will help support them to run 688 00:27:31,140 --> 00:27:33,690 and who have the connections to to do that. 689 00:27:33,690 --> 00:27:36,330 I think social media and the internet and 690 00:27:36,330 --> 00:27:38,340 things like that have changed that to a 691 00:27:38,340 --> 00:27:40,440 certain degree. People can get their message 692 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:43,950 out, but donating to good women candidates 693 00:27:43,950 --> 00:27:46,620 who empower other women is super, super 694 00:27:46,620 --> 00:27:49,470 important, particularly now more than ever 695 00:27:49,470 --> 00:27:52,140 in terms of the rights of women going 696 00:27:52,140 --> 00:27:54,870 backwards. So I think it's super important. 697 00:27:54,870 --> 00:27:56,850 And then on the branding piece, the 698 00:27:56,850 --> 00:28:00,450 authenticity piece of being able to put that 699 00:28:00,450 --> 00:28:02,790 out there, it's everything. 700 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:06,150 It it is everything, whether it's running 701 00:28:06,150 --> 00:28:09,770 for office or developing a relationship or a 702 00:28:09,770 --> 00:28:12,470 friendship or a client. 703 00:28:12,770 --> 00:28:17,690 If people don't feel a connection, then 704 00:28:17,690 --> 00:28:19,220 they're not going to want to really be 705 00:28:19,220 --> 00:28:20,630 around that person, right? 706 00:28:20,630 --> 00:28:23,630 And so the authenticity, meaning having a 707 00:28:23,630 --> 00:28:26,540 deeper purpose, being okay, talking about 708 00:28:26,540 --> 00:28:28,850 your failures, because that's what makes us 709 00:28:28,850 --> 00:28:31,910 human, right. Having that empathy for others 710 00:28:31,940 --> 00:28:35,480 and being willing to say sorry or I learned 711 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:37,850 this or that's not okay. 712 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:40,340 And then also being firm in the beliefs that 713 00:28:40,340 --> 00:28:41,510 people have, right? 714 00:28:41,510 --> 00:28:45,380 Instead of waffling or trying to say yes and 715 00:28:45,380 --> 00:28:47,240 no at the same time or whatever kind of 716 00:28:47,270 --> 00:28:51,290 thing. And so I think people really being 717 00:28:51,290 --> 00:28:55,790 introspective again, I know as a mom and as 718 00:28:55,790 --> 00:28:58,310 somebody who's always has always been 719 00:28:58,310 --> 00:29:00,470 looking out for their my children's best 720 00:29:00,470 --> 00:29:03,380 needs, mine, the majority of the time got 721 00:29:03,380 --> 00:29:04,670 put to the wayside. 722 00:29:04,670 --> 00:29:07,580 And so being able to like take the time to 723 00:29:07,610 --> 00:29:09,050 be like, okay, what? 724 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:12,260 What is this about? What who am I and have 725 00:29:12,260 --> 00:29:13,880 to reinvent myself? 726 00:29:13,910 --> 00:29:15,470 It's so important. 727 00:29:15,470 --> 00:29:17,480 And women don't do it enough. 728 00:29:17,570 --> 00:29:19,490 And and it's okay. 729 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:24,020 And within that authenticity to talk about 730 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:26,630 what it's like to be a woman doing these 731 00:29:26,630 --> 00:29:28,580 things, that's one thing that really bothers 732 00:29:28,580 --> 00:29:30,980 me is when people are like, no, don't talk 733 00:29:30,980 --> 00:29:33,500 about that being a woman, or you need to 734 00:29:33,530 --> 00:29:34,640 include everybody. 735 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:36,260 And I'm like, I'm not everybody. 736 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:39,770 So. So I think that authentic piece and 737 00:29:39,770 --> 00:29:42,770 pushing back in a way that makes people 738 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:45,290 maybe go like shift in a little bit in that 739 00:29:45,290 --> 00:29:48,170 mentality. But at the same time, it's about 740 00:29:48,170 --> 00:29:49,730 finding that common ground. 741 00:29:49,910 --> 00:29:52,310 Um, and showing things from other people's 742 00:29:52,310 --> 00:29:54,440 perspectives, I think is very important. 743 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:57,560 And being able to connect and find that 744 00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:00,980 common ground is super important within a 745 00:30:00,980 --> 00:30:03,050 campaign. It's super important for women to 746 00:30:03,050 --> 00:30:06,470 do. And I think it's probably one of the 747 00:30:06,470 --> 00:30:09,410 most critical components to a successful 748 00:30:09,410 --> 00:30:10,370 candidacy. 749 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:12,620 Carol Cox: Yeah. So Jennifer, thank you for all that. 750 00:30:12,620 --> 00:30:14,750 Several nuggets that I'm taking away from 751 00:30:14,750 --> 00:30:16,760 what you just explained is first, I did an 752 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:18,950 episode a couple of months ago on impromptu 753 00:30:18,980 --> 00:30:21,890 speaking, and I know that so many of us are 754 00:30:21,890 --> 00:30:23,930 scared to death of thinking about not having 755 00:30:23,930 --> 00:30:25,820 everything prepared or written out, so I'll 756 00:30:25,820 --> 00:30:27,410 include a link to that in the show notes. 757 00:30:27,410 --> 00:30:28,520 But one of the things that I explained in 758 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:30,650 that episode was that when you're really 759 00:30:30,650 --> 00:30:33,950 clear on your vision and your values, when 760 00:30:33,950 --> 00:30:36,200 you know what those are and you know who you 761 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:38,180 are and what matters to you, and by 762 00:30:38,180 --> 00:30:41,270 extension, what may matter to your audience, 763 00:30:41,270 --> 00:30:43,100 you can do impromptu speaking. 764 00:30:43,100 --> 00:30:45,710 Now, is it going to be as eloquent as 765 00:30:45,710 --> 00:30:48,470 writing it down with those flowery phrases 766 00:30:48,470 --> 00:30:50,540 that you want? No, your audience doesn't 767 00:30:50,540 --> 00:30:52,730 care about that. They just want to hear 768 00:30:52,730 --> 00:30:55,490 something real and authentic and relatable 769 00:30:55,490 --> 00:30:56,990 from you. So I love that you said about 770 00:30:56,990 --> 00:30:58,580 knowing your why, like knowing that. 771 00:30:58,580 --> 00:31:00,650 So understanding your vision and your values 772 00:31:00,650 --> 00:31:01,880 and your mission and then sharing that with 773 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:03,080 your audience, I think is key. 774 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:05,570 And you, clearly you and Sarah and Jennifer 775 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:07,880 have that. The second thing that you 776 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:10,490 mentioned about authenticity is about 777 00:31:10,490 --> 00:31:11,720 building trust with others. 778 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:13,820 And I feel like we can as humans, we're very 779 00:31:13,820 --> 00:31:16,280 good at having that kind of like we can 780 00:31:16,280 --> 00:31:19,040 sense incongruence with someone pretty much 781 00:31:19,070 --> 00:31:21,260 off the bat when we're having a conversation 782 00:31:21,260 --> 00:31:23,660 with them. So I think that's really key as 783 00:31:23,660 --> 00:31:26,330 well. And then the other thing is going back 784 00:31:26,330 --> 00:31:29,270 to women donating to women candidates. 785 00:31:29,270 --> 00:31:32,810 My belief is that as women, we don't have the 786 00:31:32,810 --> 00:31:36,560 generational memory of our mothers, and the 787 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:39,560 women are in our lives growing up donating 788 00:31:39,590 --> 00:31:42,590 to candidates, period, much less donating to 789 00:31:42,620 --> 00:31:45,410 women. Whereas I feel like so many men in 790 00:31:45,410 --> 00:31:47,840 their business circles, like they were used 791 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:49,970 to supporting each other, helping each other 792 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:52,250 out, donating to each other, running for 793 00:31:52,250 --> 00:31:54,050 office. And of course, not as many women ran 794 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:55,850 when my parents were growing up, much less 795 00:31:55,850 --> 00:31:57,770 my grandparents. So I am. 796 00:31:57,770 --> 00:32:00,890 So I'm optimistic that as more women like 797 00:32:00,890 --> 00:32:02,930 you run for office, and we see more women 798 00:32:02,930 --> 00:32:05,030 donating to office and donating publicly and 799 00:32:05,030 --> 00:32:06,890 supporting women publicly that we're like, 800 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:09,410 we're helping future generations build that 801 00:32:09,410 --> 00:32:11,270 muscle memory and it will get better. 802 00:32:11,300 --> 00:32:13,670 That's my hope. Yeah. 803 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:16,610 All right. So that's my plug again for all 804 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:18,110 of you listening to donate. 805 00:32:18,140 --> 00:32:20,030 Go find some women candidates to donate to. 806 00:32:20,060 --> 00:32:23,180 Emily's list is a national organization that 807 00:32:23,180 --> 00:32:26,000 supports pro-choice women who are running 808 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:27,650 for office. I know they don't support 809 00:32:27,650 --> 00:32:29,960 federal candidates like Jennifer, but they 810 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:32,930 do support state and local candidates like 811 00:32:32,930 --> 00:32:34,820 Sarah. So go to Emily's list. 812 00:32:34,820 --> 00:32:35,900 I'll include a link to that in the show 813 00:32:35,930 --> 00:32:37,190 notes as well, because that can help you 814 00:32:37,190 --> 00:32:38,960 define some candidates besides Sarah and 815 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:40,430 Jennifer, of course, to donate to. 816 00:32:40,460 --> 00:32:43,640 All right. So Sarah, you are on the ballot 817 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:47,000 this November with your with the person who 818 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:49,310 currently is the incumbent who is in the 819 00:32:49,310 --> 00:32:51,920 seat. What parting words do you have for 820 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:53,660 those who are listening here? 821 00:32:53,660 --> 00:32:56,150 How can we most help you besides donating? 822 00:32:56,780 --> 00:32:59,630 Sarah Henry: Yeah, of course, that's financial support is 823 00:32:59,660 --> 00:33:01,880 huge. You would never believe how much it 824 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:05,120 costs to keep every volunteer in water and 825 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:07,730 campaign T-shirts until you have to do it. 826 00:33:07,730 --> 00:33:09,290 So. So that's key. 827 00:33:09,290 --> 00:33:11,840 But I also think it's really about building 828 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:13,790 a culture that empowers women to run for 829 00:33:13,790 --> 00:33:16,490 office. Women have to be asked seven times 830 00:33:16,490 --> 00:33:20,450 to run, and we know that men not often even 831 00:33:20,450 --> 00:33:22,610 need to be asked. They just believe that 832 00:33:22,610 --> 00:33:23,960 folks need their opinions. 833 00:33:23,960 --> 00:33:26,030 And really, what our communities need is 834 00:33:26,030 --> 00:33:28,700 members and legislators at every level, from 835 00:33:28,700 --> 00:33:30,980 county commission to even your city 836 00:33:31,010 --> 00:33:34,910 comptroller or clerk of the courts, all the 837 00:33:34,910 --> 00:33:37,520 way up to federal level in Congress and the 838 00:33:37,520 --> 00:33:39,650 Senate, who understand what their 839 00:33:39,650 --> 00:33:40,910 community's needs are. 840 00:33:40,910 --> 00:33:43,160 And I think in many cases, the best people 841 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:45,560 who do are the women leaders among us. 842 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:48,170 So running for office is great. 843 00:33:48,170 --> 00:33:51,110 But also, you know, volunteering in any 844 00:33:51,110 --> 00:33:52,760 capacity you can, I think is really 845 00:33:52,760 --> 00:33:54,890 critical. Jennifer made a great point about 846 00:33:54,890 --> 00:33:57,710 giving kind of what you have and where, you 847 00:33:57,710 --> 00:33:59,980 know, giving from where you are and taking 848 00:33:59,980 --> 00:34:02,140 advantage of those skills. 849 00:34:02,170 --> 00:34:04,270 First of all, we always need more folks to 850 00:34:04,300 --> 00:34:06,940 knock on doors. Everybody always needs more 851 00:34:06,940 --> 00:34:08,200 folks to knock on doors. 852 00:34:08,230 --> 00:34:10,810 It is the most compelling way to bring a 853 00:34:10,810 --> 00:34:12,100 voter to the polls. 854 00:34:12,100 --> 00:34:14,140 And so finding a candidate that you believe 855 00:34:14,140 --> 00:34:16,750 in and asking how you can join their mission 856 00:34:16,750 --> 00:34:19,840 and really tap into that, why I think is 857 00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:22,090 such a great way to engage, not just with my 858 00:34:22,090 --> 00:34:23,410 campaign, but with so many others. 859 00:34:23,410 --> 00:34:25,270 We have folks who have volunteered their 860 00:34:25,270 --> 00:34:27,700 time to knock on doors, but also folks who 861 00:34:27,730 --> 00:34:29,710 have volunteered their skills as graphic 862 00:34:29,710 --> 00:34:33,100 designers or as event hosts who have a 863 00:34:33,100 --> 00:34:35,590 connection to an events, down to folks who 864 00:34:35,620 --> 00:34:37,540 are saying, I can't do much for the 865 00:34:37,540 --> 00:34:39,100 campaign, but I know you're really busy. 866 00:34:39,130 --> 00:34:41,140 Can I meal prep some lasagna for you to keep 867 00:34:41,140 --> 00:34:44,500 in your freezer? There's so many needs on a 868 00:34:44,500 --> 00:34:47,170 campaign that no matter what your skills 869 00:34:47,170 --> 00:34:50,470 are, you will be able to engage with a 870 00:34:50,470 --> 00:34:53,320 female candidate in your area who is really 871 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:54,910 working to bring that change. 872 00:34:54,940 --> 00:34:56,550 Other than that, the most important thing 873 00:34:56,580 --> 00:34:57,870 folks can do is vote. 874 00:34:57,900 --> 00:35:01,230 Not just in November, but in all of their 875 00:35:01,230 --> 00:35:03,240 elections. I know Jennifer is going to speak 876 00:35:03,240 --> 00:35:05,640 to the importance of primary elections, but 877 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:08,490 a lot of times city races are decided in 878 00:35:08,520 --> 00:35:09,870 that kind of primary time. 879 00:35:09,870 --> 00:35:12,240 It is the general election for your school 880 00:35:12,240 --> 00:35:14,850 board or your city council, and sometimes 881 00:35:14,850 --> 00:35:16,170 it's not even in the fall. 882 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:18,210 A lot of folks have elections in March or 883 00:35:18,210 --> 00:35:19,560 April or January. 884 00:35:19,560 --> 00:35:22,290 And so plugging in to when every election is 885 00:35:22,290 --> 00:35:24,090 happening in your community and making sure 886 00:35:24,090 --> 00:35:26,460 that you vote up and down the entire ballot. 887 00:35:26,490 --> 00:35:28,980 A lot of times those local races are decided 888 00:35:28,980 --> 00:35:30,660 by just a couple of votes. 889 00:35:30,690 --> 00:35:32,430 You and your friends and your neighborhood, 890 00:35:32,430 --> 00:35:34,410 or your moms group, or your walking club or 891 00:35:34,410 --> 00:35:36,390 your book club could really decide an 892 00:35:36,390 --> 00:35:39,060 election. And so just being plugged in and 893 00:35:39,060 --> 00:35:40,800 making sure that you're engaged on every 894 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:43,200 election is really how we continue to build 895 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:45,810 power for women in all of these spaces. 896 00:35:45,900 --> 00:35:47,640 Carol Cox: So well said Sarah. 897 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:51,210 And for and check also your local elections 898 00:35:51,210 --> 00:35:53,910 office to see what is available for either 899 00:35:53,940 --> 00:35:56,340 vote by mail, as well as early voting here 900 00:35:56,340 --> 00:35:58,830 in Florida. We are very fortunate you can 901 00:35:58,830 --> 00:36:00,270 request a vote by mail ballot. 902 00:36:00,270 --> 00:36:02,220 There is no you don't have to supply a 903 00:36:02,220 --> 00:36:03,900 reason like you used to have in the past. 904 00:36:03,900 --> 00:36:05,100 I always do that. 905 00:36:05,100 --> 00:36:06,960 I actually have my ballots over here on the 906 00:36:06,960 --> 00:36:09,420 desk for the August primary, because it just 907 00:36:09,420 --> 00:36:11,160 makes it easy. I can take my time. 908 00:36:11,160 --> 00:36:13,620 I can do research on the amendments or on 909 00:36:13,620 --> 00:36:15,120 the candidates and the judges, and I can 910 00:36:15,120 --> 00:36:17,340 fill it all out. And then once in a while, 911 00:36:17,370 --> 00:36:19,350 I'll even take it and go to the polls and 912 00:36:19,350 --> 00:36:21,330 actually turn in the ballot, the absentee 913 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:23,130 ballot, and then actually vote in the booth 914 00:36:23,160 --> 00:36:25,110 when I feel like it. But so do that. 915 00:36:25,110 --> 00:36:28,290 Also early voting, a lot of states now also 916 00:36:28,290 --> 00:36:30,780 have opportunities for you to vote in the 917 00:36:30,780 --> 00:36:32,580 days leading up to Election Day. 918 00:36:32,580 --> 00:36:34,680 So I know sometimes Election day you're 919 00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:36,660 working, you have childcare, you have, well, 920 00:36:36,690 --> 00:36:39,060 intentions to go and vote and then something 921 00:36:39,060 --> 00:36:40,500 happens. So if you have an early voting 922 00:36:40,500 --> 00:36:42,780 opportunity in your area, definitely go and 923 00:36:42,780 --> 00:36:45,120 check that out. All right Jennifer, you are 924 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:48,030 on the primary ballot, which in Florida is 925 00:36:48,030 --> 00:36:50,040 on August 20th. 926 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:52,750 And so tell us a little bit about what it's 927 00:36:52,750 --> 00:36:54,430 like to run in a primary, because I know you 928 00:36:54,460 --> 00:36:57,190 have to focus both on the primary, but also 929 00:36:57,190 --> 00:36:59,710 on the general election at the same time. 930 00:37:00,760 --> 00:37:04,180 Jennifer Adams: Yeah. As somebody who has done a lot of work 931 00:37:04,180 --> 00:37:06,970 in somebody who's like the only person who 932 00:37:06,970 --> 00:37:08,920 is from here and who lives in the district 933 00:37:08,950 --> 00:37:12,760 who's running, it's been that's been a plus 934 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:14,440 in terms of people. 935 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:16,540 If they don't know me, they can look and see 936 00:37:16,540 --> 00:37:20,320 the other advisory boards or other spaces 937 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:23,770 that I have already given back in, and I'm 938 00:37:23,770 --> 00:37:26,890 able to be somebody who's been in a lot of 939 00:37:26,890 --> 00:37:30,220 spaces and has built relationships with 940 00:37:30,220 --> 00:37:32,860 different organizations, with different 941 00:37:32,860 --> 00:37:35,500 elected officials and, and have worked 942 00:37:35,500 --> 00:37:36,520 through the process. Right. 943 00:37:36,550 --> 00:37:38,380 I've led statewide advocacy and things like 944 00:37:38,380 --> 00:37:41,140 that, and you have to engage with all of the 945 00:37:41,140 --> 00:37:43,840 voters. But if you've already shown to be 946 00:37:43,840 --> 00:37:45,730 competent and to already have been able to 947 00:37:45,730 --> 00:37:47,110 accomplish a lot of the things that you 948 00:37:47,110 --> 00:37:49,270 would as an elected official without having 949 00:37:49,270 --> 00:37:51,540 been an elected official, That's obviously a 950 00:37:51,540 --> 00:37:52,620 bonus and a plus as well. 951 00:37:52,620 --> 00:37:54,720 And and I think being able to find 952 00:37:54,750 --> 00:37:56,610 candidates who are especially in this 953 00:37:56,610 --> 00:37:58,890 district because it's like a third in terms 954 00:37:58,890 --> 00:38:01,410 of voter registration, to be able to find 955 00:38:01,440 --> 00:38:04,320 somebody who is able to connect with and 956 00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:06,780 speak with a lot of those different groups 957 00:38:06,780 --> 00:38:09,120 is really important to be able to win. 958 00:38:09,120 --> 00:38:12,300 And we've been messaging a lot of this as a 959 00:38:12,300 --> 00:38:14,250 campaign for the general. 960 00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:16,530 Right, in the sense that talking to all of 961 00:38:16,530 --> 00:38:19,350 the voters, because that's what this 962 00:38:19,350 --> 00:38:21,540 district has been lacking with the current 963 00:38:21,540 --> 00:38:22,740 representative. Right. 964 00:38:22,740 --> 00:38:26,100 And so people are tired of extremism on both 965 00:38:26,100 --> 00:38:27,210 sides in this district. 966 00:38:27,210 --> 00:38:29,850 And I think in the country, and I think it's 967 00:38:29,850 --> 00:38:33,150 a breath of fresh air to find somebody who 968 00:38:33,180 --> 00:38:36,300 has been able to help put together a 969 00:38:36,300 --> 00:38:39,780 legislation that does get support and does 970 00:38:39,780 --> 00:38:43,830 pass, and is able to navigate those 971 00:38:43,830 --> 00:38:47,550 different lanes and provide common sense 972 00:38:47,550 --> 00:38:49,910 solutions and be able to communicate those 973 00:38:49,910 --> 00:38:52,550 because childcare and caregiving is a big 974 00:38:52,550 --> 00:38:55,610 thing for me, and it's something that in our 975 00:38:55,610 --> 00:38:57,830 country, we're like the only developed 976 00:38:57,830 --> 00:39:01,370 nation that doesn't have a federal 977 00:39:01,370 --> 00:39:04,220 infrastructure to support small businesses, 978 00:39:04,220 --> 00:39:06,620 to support working families, to support the 979 00:39:06,620 --> 00:39:09,740 elderly population, which is going to double 980 00:39:09,770 --> 00:39:12,410 here right in the next 20 to 30 years. 981 00:39:12,440 --> 00:39:16,370 And so being able to be thinking large down 982 00:39:16,370 --> 00:39:19,160 the road, as well as short term to something 983 00:39:19,160 --> 00:39:21,680 that we should have, there is no excuse for 984 00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:24,650 us to not. But having looked at who the 985 00:39:24,650 --> 00:39:26,390 people are that are in office, I'm like, you 986 00:39:26,390 --> 00:39:28,010 know what? It's going to be easier for me to 987 00:39:28,040 --> 00:39:29,660 run for Congress than it is to get a bill 988 00:39:29,690 --> 00:39:32,150 passed. So that's like where I'm at in this. 989 00:39:32,150 --> 00:39:34,070 And yeah, we have a primary election. 990 00:39:34,070 --> 00:39:36,470 And a lot of times the way that that, that a 991 00:39:36,470 --> 00:39:39,740 lot of these parties work, it's archaic in 992 00:39:39,740 --> 00:39:42,140 the sense that, okay, there's a primary, we 993 00:39:42,140 --> 00:39:44,570 stay out of it and wait Florida we have such 994 00:39:44,600 --> 00:39:46,520 a late primary, we only have a couple of 995 00:39:46,520 --> 00:39:48,500 months between the primary and the general. 996 00:39:48,500 --> 00:39:51,470 So it's very difficult to get to gain and 997 00:39:51,470 --> 00:39:53,570 keep up momentum in such a short period of 998 00:39:53,570 --> 00:39:56,540 time. And so that's why there have been 999 00:39:56,570 --> 00:39:58,400 things like ghost candidates in the past in 1000 00:39:58,400 --> 00:40:00,620 Florida and these other races. 1001 00:40:00,620 --> 00:40:02,750 Does it matter if it's a federal or state or 1002 00:40:02,750 --> 00:40:04,850 local? More so on the state and federal 1003 00:40:04,850 --> 00:40:06,890 sides, because they are usually more of the 1004 00:40:06,890 --> 00:40:08,120 party races. 1005 00:40:08,120 --> 00:40:10,730 But but I think it's really important for 1006 00:40:10,730 --> 00:40:15,140 people to engage as early as they can to get 1007 00:40:15,140 --> 00:40:17,660 the word out as early as they can, and to be 1008 00:40:17,690 --> 00:40:20,150 able to gain and continue to, to pick up 1009 00:40:20,180 --> 00:40:21,710 the, the momentum. 1010 00:40:21,710 --> 00:40:25,340 And, and it's nice that more women are doing 1011 00:40:25,340 --> 00:40:27,620 that and coming together and supporting one 1012 00:40:27,620 --> 00:40:31,280 another. And we have some amazing female 1013 00:40:31,280 --> 00:40:34,190 candidates right now who are like, so sick 1014 00:40:34,190 --> 00:40:38,270 and tired of just the draconian laws that 1015 00:40:38,270 --> 00:40:40,550 have been passed and are not helping our 1016 00:40:40,550 --> 00:40:44,090 communities. And like, I'm a mom on a 1017 00:40:44,090 --> 00:40:47,390 mission, like I'm like, I am so fed up with 1018 00:40:47,390 --> 00:40:49,520 these things that are really the majority of 1019 00:40:49,520 --> 00:40:52,310 our poverty. The biggest sector are single 1020 00:40:52,310 --> 00:40:53,390 moms and kids. 1021 00:40:53,390 --> 00:40:55,970 We have like almost 50% of the children in 1022 00:40:55,970 --> 00:40:57,740 America live in poverty. 1023 00:40:57,740 --> 00:40:59,240 That is so unacceptable. 1024 00:40:59,240 --> 00:41:00,800 That's our future generation. 1025 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:03,830 And it just really ticks me off because 1026 00:41:03,830 --> 00:41:05,360 that's what we should all be about, right? 1027 00:41:05,390 --> 00:41:06,860 That's what makes us stronger. 1028 00:41:06,860 --> 00:41:09,410 That's what makes us have a brighter future. 1029 00:41:09,410 --> 00:41:11,390 And so we have to get like these 1030 00:41:11,390 --> 00:41:14,210 self-serving, performative politicians out. 1031 00:41:14,210 --> 00:41:17,000 And so I'll get off my soapbox now, but I am 1032 00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:20,180 like, so fired up about this aspect of it 1033 00:41:20,180 --> 00:41:22,340 that this is why I stepped up to run, 1034 00:41:22,340 --> 00:41:24,710 because it's because of my kids that I 1035 00:41:24,710 --> 00:41:26,570 stepped up to run. It's not because of my 1036 00:41:26,570 --> 00:41:28,040 kids that I don't run. 1037 00:41:28,820 --> 00:41:30,140 Carol Cox: All right, Jennifer, preach it. 1038 00:41:30,170 --> 00:41:32,210 Get on your soapbox. I tell clients all the 1039 00:41:32,210 --> 00:41:33,770 time when I'm asking them questions, I'm 1040 00:41:33,770 --> 00:41:35,510 like, what gets you fired up? 1041 00:41:35,510 --> 00:41:37,790 What do you want to shout from your soapbox? 1042 00:41:37,790 --> 00:41:40,070 And so clearly, you know what that is 1043 00:41:40,070 --> 00:41:41,300 Jennifer and I love it. 1044 00:41:41,300 --> 00:41:42,770 And I couldn't agree with you more. 1045 00:41:42,770 --> 00:41:44,140 So for those of you listening, go to 1046 00:41:44,170 --> 00:41:46,720 Jennifer Adams for congress.com. 1047 00:41:46,750 --> 00:41:50,170 Also go to Sarah for FL as in Florida, Sarah 1048 00:41:50,170 --> 00:41:53,350 for FL. Com to find out more about Jennifer 1049 00:41:53,350 --> 00:41:56,020 and Sarah and to donate to their campaigns. 1050 00:41:56,020 --> 00:41:57,730 If you would like to work with us here at 1051 00:41:57,730 --> 00:41:59,320 Speaking Your Brand, we have our online 1052 00:41:59,320 --> 00:42:01,330 program called the Thought Leader Academy. 1053 00:42:01,360 --> 00:42:03,040 You can get all the details about that at 1054 00:42:03,040 --> 00:42:05,350 speaking your brand.com/academy. 1055 00:42:05,380 --> 00:42:08,800 We also have a one day in-person workshop 1056 00:42:08,800 --> 00:42:11,140 that we're holding here in Orlando, Florida, 1057 00:42:11,170 --> 00:42:13,780 coming up on October 10th, where we're going 1058 00:42:13,810 --> 00:42:16,300 to help you with your storytelling for your 1059 00:42:16,300 --> 00:42:19,570 presentations and your delivery on our 1060 00:42:19,570 --> 00:42:20,980 practice stage. It's going to be a lot of 1061 00:42:20,980 --> 00:42:23,080 fun. You can get all of those details as 1062 00:42:23,080 --> 00:42:26,320 speaking your brand.com/workshop. 1063 00:42:26,320 --> 00:42:28,330 Thank you Sarah and Jennifer, so much for 1064 00:42:28,330 --> 00:42:29,470 coming on the podcast. 1065 00:42:29,470 --> 00:42:31,300 It was such a pleasure to talk to you. 1066 00:42:31,660 --> 00:42:33,580 Jennifer Adams: Thanks so much. Appreciate it. 1067 00:42:34,120 --> 00:42:35,260 Carol Cox: Until next time. 1068 00:42:35,260 --> 00:42:36,430 Thanks for listening.