Rephonic
Artwork for Built By Us
Gerrymandering
North Carolina
SB 153
HB 318
Democracy North Carolina
Voting Rights
Democracy NC
Voting Rights Act
Racial Gerrymandering
North Carolina General Assembly
Democracy Out Loud
Democracy
North Carolina Budget and Tax Center
State Of North Carolina Budget Process
Education In North Carolina
Public Education
Independent Redistricting Commission
Local Municipal Elections
Voter Registration
Leandro Case

Built By Us Media spotlights movement makers and shakers across North Carolina. Hosts Kai and Joselle sit down with organizers, activists, and working-class people who are fighting for justice, building power, and making sure our voices aren't just heard, but centered. Every episode connects you with someone who's putting in work for liberation, and gives you the tools to join them. Because the No... more

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Artwork for Built By Us

Latest Episodes

This is Part 2 of a two-part episode. Listen to Part 1 featuring Bryan Proffitt of the NCAE first.

If a child's opportunity depends on their zip code, race, or family income, are we really giving every child the same chance? In Part 2, Kai sits down... more

Recorded prior to May 12, 2026, before North Carolina lawmakers agreed to a budget framework that includes raises for teachers, law enforcement, and other state employees.

What if the condition of your child's classroom wasn't an accident? Kai sits ... more

YouTube

North Carolina is the only state in the country without a comprehensive budget approved for this year, and the people are paying the price. In this episode, host Kai McNeil sits down with Sally Hodges-Copple and Moriah Collins from the NC Budget and ... more

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The March primary is over, but the election process isn't. 

Right now, 100 county boards across North Carolina are in the canvass period, and most people have never heard of it. In this episode of Built by Us, host Kai McNeil sits down with Democrac... more

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Recent Guests

Susanna Benitez
From the Education Justice Alliance, leading the Every Child North Carolina Coalition
Education Justice Alliance / Every Child NC
Episode: Every Child Deserves a Chance: The Fight for Equitable Schools in NC (ft. Susanna Benitez & Sarah Montgomery)
Sarah Montgomery
From the North Carolina Justice Center, supporting the Every Child NC Coalition
North Carolina Justice Center / Every Child NC
Episode: Every Child Deserves a Chance: The Fight for Equitable Schools in NC (ft. Susanna Benitez & Sarah Montgomery)
Sally Hodges-Coppel
Senior policy analyst
North Carolina Budget and Tax Center
Episode: Built by Us, Funded by Who? Breaking Down NC's Budget Stalemate
Mariah Collins
Campaign coordinator
North Carolina Budget and Tax Center
Episode: Built by Us, Funded by Who? Breaking Down NC's Budget Stalemate
Brian Kennedy
Senior Policy Analyst at Democracy NC
Democracy NC
Episode: 2026 NC Primaries Breakdown — Rejected Ballots, Gerrymandering & Canvassing Comes Next
Michael Bitzer
Director of the North Carolina Center for Politics
Catawba College / NC Center for Politics
Episode: 2026 NC Primaries Breakdown — Rejected Ballots, Gerrymandering & Canvassing Comes Next
Chris Suggs
Former city councilman, founder of Kinston Teens, Democracy Summer alum
Kinston Teens; Built By Us guest
Episode: Basketball Blocking Democracy: Chris Suggs Still Fights for Kinston
Hannah Preston
North Carolina-based social media influencer who built Health Policy Princess
Health Policy Princess / Influence NC
Episode: Plugged In Pissed Off: Health Policy Princess
Irving Joyner
Professor from North Carolina Central University, expert in civil rights and voting rights
North Carolina Central University
Episode: 2026 Elections and What Democracy Means This Year?

Hosts

Kai McNeil
Host of Built By Us, affiliated with Built By Us / Democracy NC. Co-leads conversations around justice, power-building, and mobilization in NC.
Joselle
Co-host of Built By Us, focused on organizing, communications, and advocacy within Democracy North Carolina and allied movements.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 17 ratings
  • Leftist claptrap

    This podcast combines all the unimpressive talking points and vapid ideologies of the modern “progressive” into one podcast devoid of facts, context and research. If you want to listen to some baseless opinions made by today’s uneducated run of the mill liberal, then enjoy.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Gipetto5400
    United States3 years ago
  • Spectacular!

    The whole Democracy NC family is so amazing and committed to their work, and this podcast is no different! Make sure to check out all of these amazing episodes!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    🙌🏽🙌🏽
    United States5 years ago
  • This *is* what democracy looks like

    Important voices representing young voters and their experiences and observations — all from a 2020 swing state. Built By Us rebuilt my faith in a citizen-led government and what we all can do to be the change we want to see at the ballot box. — @thesailorjones

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    invisiblejenjones
    United States7 years ago
  • Best NC Voting Info!

    If you’re looking for the latest info on voting rights policies and what you can do to help get more voting access for more people, you need to listen to Built By Us. The hosts really break down the topics in easy to understand ways and give you clear ways to get involved.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    appmat323
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are diverse voices with clear advocacy experience, not just theoretical discussions.
Listeners appreciate actionable takeaways for volunteering, voting access, and community organizing.
Shows strong commitment to democratic participation and practical civic actions.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

State of Democracy: How SB 153 & HB 318 Weaken Democracy for All North Carolinians
Q: What resources are available to families who might be affected?
Carolina Migrant Network offers a hotline for guidance and rapid response, Know Your Rights resources, free legal services for those detained, and connections to lawyers; El Pueblo and Education Justice Alliance provide plain-language guides and workshops to help families navigate rights and elections.
State of Democracy: How SB 153 & HB 318 Weaken Democracy for All North Carolinians
Q: How do these bills affect schools and communities beyond immigration policy?
The bills create fear that spills into classrooms and healthcare, reducing attendance, increasing anxiety among students and parents, diminishing teacher morale, and potentially cutting funding tied to attendance, while undermining trust in public institutions and complicating educators' ability to protect and support all students.
State of Democracy: How SB 153 & HB 318 Weaken Democracy for All North Carolinians
Q: What are SB 153 and HB 318, and what do they actually do?
SB 153 would align NC with harsh immigration enforcement by forcing state agencies to act like immigration enforcers, implement audits of benefits, strip immunity from local governments that protect undocumented people, and block sanctuary policies in UNC institutions; HB 318 expands cooperation with ICE by increasing triggers for verification and adding a 48-hour detention window, plus requiring notification to ICE before release.
GOTV: Why Local Votes Hit Different
Q: Are you making a plan to vote this year, and why is it important?
JP emphasizes that municipal elections in NC are highly polarized and that primaries occur in September/October before the November general, underscoring the direct impact on local governance and the value of participating in both primary and general elections.
GOTV: Why Local Votes Hit Different
Q: JP, what is the registration repair project?
JP explains that after regulatory changes, a large list of voters may need to repair missing information (like the DMV ID number or the last four digits of the SSN) to ensure their registration is valid; a three-pronged approach is recommended: via DMV, at the County Board of Elections, or by mail, with a clear emphasis on not attempting to repair at the voting site.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Built By Us

What is Built By Us about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Built By Us spotlights movement makers and shakers across North Carolina, hosting organizers, activists, and working-class voices who are fighting for justice and building power. Episodes frequently center education equity, voting rights, budget justice, and gerrymandering, often tying policy fights to grassroots organizing and civic participation. Noteworthy is the hands-on approach: guests share personal experiences, historical context, and practical actions listeners can take to influence policy and mobilize their communities. The show leans into coalition-building and civic empowerment, offering resources and concrete steps for listeners to engage in public life and democratic reform.

Where can I find podcast stats for Built By Us?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Built By Us. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Built By Us and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Built By Us get?

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What are the audience demographics for Built By Us?

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Which podcasts are similar to Built By Us?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Built By Us:

1. Under the Dome

How many episodes of Built By Us are there?

Built By Us launched 7 years ago and published 138 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Built By Us?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Built By Us?

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What guests have appeared on Built By Us?

Recent guests on Built By Us include:

1. Susanna Benitez
2. Sarah Montgomery
3. Sally Hodges-Coppel
4. Mariah Collins
5. Brian Kennedy
6. Michael Bitzer
7. Chris Suggs
8. Hannah Preston

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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