In episode 134, we chat with our new friend, Nan Whaley! She talks to us about the current state of reproductive rights in Ohio and beyond. This conversation gave us just the boost we needed to keep fighting this fight!

Nan is a seasoned public servant with more than two decades of experience in local government. Since 2024, Ms. Whaley has served as the President and C.E.O. of Planned Parenthood Southwestern Ohio. She leads a team of 130 professionals in reproductive healthcare serving 23 counties. She is tenacious in the mission of expanding abortion access in a safe haven area that is surrounded by states with no access to abortion services.

Ms. Whaley served as the Mayor of Dayton, Ohio from 2014 to 2022, where she led the city through several major challenges, including the devastating tornadoes of 2019, a senseless mass shooting and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to her tenure as Mayor, Ms. Whaley served on the Dayton City Commission where she was the youngest woman to hold that post. Ms. Whaley is a strong advocate of Midwestern economic development. She has worked to address issues of racial inequality and poverty in Dayton. She has also been a vocal advocate for gun safety and has worked to pass legislation at the local, state and national level to reduce gun violence. In 2022, she was the Democratic nominee for governor of Ohio; making Ohio history as the first woman from any major political party to be nominated.

In addition to her work in government, Ms. Whaley is actively involved in her community and has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations. She holds a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of Dayton and a master's degree in Public Administration from Wright State University. She lives in her beloved Five Oaks neighborhood in Dayton with her husband Sam, their dog Louis and cat Paris.

Resources:

* Planned Parenthood - Southwest Ohio Region

Connect with USS:

* Substack

* Instagram

* TikTok

This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

* Website

* Instagram

Episode 133 features our incredible conversation with Dr. Amy Acton, who's running as the Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio. She left us feeling so hopeful about the future of our home state - and we think you’ll feel the same after listening!

Dr. Amy Acton grew up in Youngstown, Ohio under difficult circumstances. But that made Amy tough – and now, Amy is running for governor to fight for every Ohio family that’s struggling today.

After putting herself through medical school, Amy did a residency at Children’s Hospital and Ohio State University where she trained in pediatrics and preventive medicine and created the first ever residency rotation in child advocacy.

Amy began her career as the Director of Project L.O.V.E where she managed public private partnerships between Columbus area hospitals and key community stakeholders to keep our children healthy. Amy then joined the faculty at Ohio State University where she became an award winning professor of maternal and child health and global public health.

In 2019 Governor DeWine asked Amy to serve in his administration as the Director of the Ohio Department of Public Health. Working closely with Governor DeWine, Amy’s widely acclaimed leadership and inspiring guidance were experienced in daily news conferences as COVID exploded in the spring of 2020, earning her a Profile in COVID Courage Award from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation in 2021. In 2022 she was named Woman of the Year for Ohio by USA Today for her efforts.

Following her service in the DeWine administration, Amy returned to the Columbus Foundation and helped found the Center for Human Kindness. She worked with CEO’s, Mayor’s, and community advocates to launch Rapid 5, a nonprofit to promote the region’s health and economic wellness. Amy also partnered with WKYC on a new multi-platform series on Health, Hope & Healing–where she spoke to Ohioans about the challenges they face and the innovative solutions they’re using to move themselves forward.

Now, Amy’s running for Governor because she refuses to look away from Ohioans who are struggling.

Amy lives in Bexley, Ohio with her husband, Eric, who has coached and taught in Bexley City Schools since 1987. Together they have six kids and enjoy traveling, exploring nature, and spending time with their good friends and growing family.

Resources:

* Acton for Governor Website

* Donate to Dr. Acton’s Campaign

* Connect with Dr. Acton’s on Social Media:

* Instagram

* Bluesky

* Facebook

* X/Twitter

Connect with USS:

* Substack

* Instagram

* TikTok

This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

* Website

* Instagram

In episode 132, lifelong human rights advocate and Iranian Resistance supporter Zahra Amanpour gives us a TL;DR on Iran’s fight for democracy—and shares a lesser-known path forward for the country’s future.

Born during the 1979 Iranian Revolution in Tehran, Zahra’s life has been defined by the struggle for freedom. Her father, a prominent advocate with the MEK/PMOI was killed in 1988, a summer marked by the mass killing of 30,000 political prisoners after the end of the Iran-Iraq war. Raised by her mother within the Iranian Resistance community, Zahra grew up surrounded by the courage, clarity, and conviction of those who refused to be silenced.

She draws deep inspiration from the many women who have led the movement for a free, secular, and democratic Iran. As a Board Member of the Women’s Freedom Forum, Zahra works to amplify the voices of women fighting for their rights under repressive regimes and to shine a global light on their stories of resistance.

Zahra continues to advocate for justice through every facet of her life. In the United States, she channels this commitment into economic empowerment, working to build a more equitable economy for underserved communities. Over the past two decades, she has helped thousands of individuals reclaim their economic agency and future.

Though many may see Zahra as living a typical American life—raising a family, building a business, and staying engaged in her community—her life is a powerful form of resistance. She currently resides in the New York area with her husband and two children and finds joy in music, nature, and discovering new corners of the world.

Her greatest hope and ambition remains the same: to see the end of Iran’s tyrannical regime and the rise of a free and democratic Iran, led by its people and grounded in justice, equality, and peace.

Resources:

* NCRI Women's Committee Website

* NCRI Women’s Committee on X

* Zahra Amanpour on LinkedIn

Connect with USS:

* Substack

* Instagram

* TikTok

This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

* Website

* Instagram