Twitter Travels for Pete

Mike Schmuhl, former campaign manager for the Pete Buttigieg 2020 presidential primary campaign and the current Chair of the Indiana Democratic Party joins me to talk about Pete's campaign, Indiana politics, and best practices going forward. Spoiler: Year-round politics.

Anthony Mercurio, former Investment Director for Pete Buttigieg's 2020 presidential primary campaign and Senior Advisor for the subsequent Win the Era PAC, joins me to talk about the ins and outs of political fundrasing. From his time working on Pete's campaign to his involvement with Win the Era, Anthony sheds light on how critical fundraising is for campaigns and the different ways to donate, from small grassroots amounts to sustainer pledges. Anthony stresses the importance of state and local races as you decide which candidates to support.

Lis Smith, former Senior Communications Advisor for the Pete 2020 primary campaign joins me to talk about her New York Times bestselling book, Any Given Tuesday - A Political Love Story. The conversation centers on her time with the Pete campaign, the excitement and challenges of building the rocket ship as it was taking off while incorporating the swell of supporters assembling to help. At the end, Lis has some words of advice for where to focus our energies to help get more Democrats elected, from the local level on up.

In this episode, three writers – Lisa, Paul, and your fearless host – discuss their Pete 2020 memoirs and where they take us moving forward. In addition to my memoir Traveling the Trail for Pete – Finding Belonging in a Political Campaign, two other books have been written about volunteering on the Pete Buttigieg 2020 primary campaign thus far: Boots on the Ground – A Grassroots Tale of Neighbors Stepping Up and Into Pete Buttigieg's Historic Presidential Run, by Lisa Fleishman, and Paul for Pete – Politics. Theatre. Life. One Man's Adventures or How I Became a Septuagenarian Fan Boy, by Paul Mason Barnes. Three very different books, but all with similar commitment to an awe-inspiring candidate.

Mike Schlichting, a PhD candidate at the University of Wisconsin Madison, joins me to talk about Intermodal Connections between air and rail—Railflyer—and how we can “Go Faster” with high speed transportation.   For more information about Mike's projects, check out: Wihst.org.

Paige Malott, Chair of Cascadia Rail, joins me to talk about advocacy for a high-speed rail project that would connect Portland to Seattle to Vancouver.

The GPS system that we all know and love from our phones falls under the US Department of Transportation. Why is this? And WHAT is it, exactly? Caz Margenau joins me to explain it all.

Kristin Kingsley, an auto safety engineer, joins me to talk about vechicle safety, which falls under the DOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It's not just about the cars themselves, but the drivers as well.

In this discussion of public transit issues, Jenny @MisfitMuser brings her experience of depending upon an inadequate public transit system and Ryan @Omni42 contributes his public policy background as we talk about mass transit needs and the role of the Federal Transit Administration in meeting those challenges.

Michelle @Lagreeneyes03 has enjoyed working in the field of aviation for most of her professional life. In this episode, Michelle talks about the FAA and what she sees as areas that need improvement. Sounds like a job for Secretary Designate Maryor Pete!

Jonathan French, Transportation Engineer, joins me to talk about the piece he wrote for Medium entitled, "An Agenda for Highways and Bridges for a 21st Century Transportation Secretary". In it, he recommends five priorities for Secretary Designate Buttigieg to focus on - from funding to safety to roundabouts.

Julie Parker (@buttonspete) has developed a wonderful world of buttons and more as a grassroots fundraising effort in support of Pete for America, Biden for President and now Win the Era, Pete Buttigieg's PAC. The Pete Mosaic (covered in the last episode) is now represented in her line of merchandise. Julie was also co-founder of Barnstormers for Pete and has continued to play an integral role in its transformation to Barnstormers for America and all the work they're doing.

Nicola Jane Buttigieg, creator of the Pete Mosaic, joins me to talk about the project from its inception to plans for the next phase. The Pete Mosaic is a digital image of Pete Buttigieg made up of thousands of grassroots supporter photos from various Pete for America campaign events - the epitome of JOY in the Rules of the Road. Sharing the Buttigieg surname, Nicola Jane and Pete are second cousins who have never met.

To get the South Bend perspective on the Rules of the Road, Laura O'Sullivan joins me to talk about her experience as Pete's Chief of Staff in the mayor's office and then as South Bend Political Director for the campaign.

In this episode, Garret Brubaker, Post Production Manager for Pete for America, joins me to talk about the Rules of the Road on the content side of things. Contact Garret:http://www.garretbrubaker.com/

Samantha Steelman joins me to talk about the Rules of the Road on the campaign organizing side. Samantha was the Marathon States Organizing Director for Pete for America.

How did Pete's Rules of the Road affect life on the campaign trail? Nina Smith, who was Pete's Traveling Press Secretary during the campaign, joins me to discuss.

The final two Rules of the Road are EXCELLENCE and JOY. Joining me to discuss these gems is Verity Van Tassel Richards, @Gardeners4Pete.

SUBSTANCE and DISCIPLINE are the next two Rues of the Road. Joining me is Kristi Kelly to discuss how these two rules were crucial in the campaign and are valuable for any campaign to follow.

My guest Cleo Loughlin joins me for an insightful discussion of BOLDNESS and RESPONSIBILITY, the next two Rules of the Road from the Pete for America campaign.

The next two Rules of the Road from the Pete Buttigieg campaign are TRUTH and TEAMWORK. Lauren Wagner (@GrandmasforPete) joins me to discuss what they mean and how they’re related. Hint: All the Rules of the Road are related!

Although Pete Buttigieg is no longer running for President, his legacy lives on in the campaign's Rules of the Road, which are applicable for anything we do in life. In this episode, my guest Paula Radell and I cover the first two Rules: RESPECT and BELONGING.

Things are heating up for Super Tuesday as Minnesota for Pete ramps up canvassing efforts in their sprint to help Pete win Minnesota. Gina, the Minnesota Volunteer Lead gives us the update and then we hear from several volunteers as they embark on their door-knocking adventure.

It's 10 days before the Iowa Caucus and I'm in Iowa City talking to super-volunteer Barbara Clark (@spiritedstrider on Twitter). In addition to her Pete story, Barbara tells us how caucus night will unfold. She's got the inside scoop because she's serving as party Precinct Chair for her precinct.

A snowstorm grounded our host in Minneapolis this weekend, so what a perfect opportunity to turn the tables. In this episode, Sue Ann's husband Steve takes on the role of interviewer. Listen as Sue Ann tells her Why Pete? story and how Twitter Travels for Pete got started.

This time, Elise is the one who has been traveling and has great Pete stories to tell. From Interning in Grinnell, Iowa over the summer to her recent semester abroad in London, where she found Americans Abroad for Pete, this Minnesota college student has had amazing experiences representing Pete.

I talked to Wes and Jodi from Omaha and Jana from Lincoln to find out what's going on in Nebraska for Pete. The bonus is that they're also helping out across the river in Iowa - in Council Bluffs.

In this episode, my Twitter friend Myndee (Mayor Pete Fan Girl) shares a personal story about the sense of belonging she feels from #TeamPete, and how this support network was there for her when she desperately needed it. Myndee has recently published a self-help book called "As You Love Yourself - 30 Days of Devotion to You"

Back in September, I attended a Lis Smith fundraiser in Washington DC where I met many of my DC Pete Twitter friends. In talking to them at the event, I could see how deeply involved they were in the Pete for America grassroots effort. I wanted to share it with you, so I went back to DC to record an interview with Patti and Kyle of the Virginia group and Christopher and Raezel of the Maryland group.

I recently made my third trip to South Bend to see Twitter friends, old and new. I caught up with my Twitter Friend Joy, a real South Bender. Listen to what it's been like having Pete as Mayor and how the transition to Pete for President is playing out in South Bend.

Come along on the Pete Barnstormers weekend to Des Moines, Iowa for the Liberty and Justice Fall Dinner. Listen in on the some of the Minnesota kickoff meeting; experience the roar of the crowd as Pete makes his entrance for his speech in the Wells Fargo Arena; learn about the Pete Barnstormers grassroots effort with Abby and Donna; and get the scoop on the High Hopes dance flashmob movement from Amy.    

In this first episode, we explore the grassroots efforts of the Minnesota for Pete group - from coffee meet-ups to a booth at the Minnesota State Fair to helping our neighbors in Iowa. More and more new people are finding our group and the schedule of local events is growing. Throughout it all, the same questions are asked: "Why Pete? What do you like about Pete?" It all becomes apparent that Pete Buttigieg really sells himself. We just need to help spread the word. Still not sure which candidate to support in the Democratic Presidential Primary? Come with me as I travel around and capture the energy on the ground for Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Join me as I meet Pete Twitter friends in person and ask them about their Pete story. Traveling for Pete will show you how everyday people are excited about Pete Buttigieg for President.When she’s not teaching Advanced ESL to adult immigrants, Sue Ann Rawlins travels around as a standby passenger from her home base in Minneapolis to meet online friends in person.