Rephonic
Artwork for Democracy Works
Democracy
Polarization
Disengagement
January 6 Hearings
Populism
Political Loss
Republican Party
Cassidy Hutchinson
Racial Justice
American Politics
Political Engagement
Media Representation
Political Grievance
Grief
Donald Trump
Liberal Democracy
Civil Rights Movement
Civic Education
Voter Turnout
Building Civic Bridges Act

The Democracy Works podcast seeks to answer that question by examining a different aspect of democratic life each week — from voting to criminal justice to the free press and everything in between. We interview experts who study democracy, as well as people who are out there doing the hard work of democracy day in and day out. The show’s name comes from Pennsylvania’s long tradition of iron and st... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes680Founded8 years ago
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GovernmentEducation

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Artwork for Democracy Works

Latest Episodes

This episode is a collaboration with our colleagues at News Over Noise, the podcast from Penn State's News Literacy Initiative. We recorded this interview on October 27, the first day of U.S. Media Literacy Week, an event that highlights the power of... more

Civic education is full of nostalgia. Horace Mann, John Dewey, and the Cold War era often come up in conversations about the current state of affairs. Judge Marjorie Rendell knows this well because she grew up in the postwar era and understand how di... more

The movement to end gerrymandering is something we've covered on the show several times over the years. Until recently, the conversation focused on independent redistricting commissions formed as a result of grassroots action from voters who felt tha... more

The last time Cynthia Miller-Idriss was on the show, we discussed how political extremism was making its way to the mainstream through a variety of channels. This time, we're looking at how misogyny and gender-based violence have become mainstream an... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Judge Marjorie Rendell
Co-founder of the Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement, federal judge
Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement
Episode: A Republic, if you can teach it
Carol Kuniholm
Advocate for independent redistricting in Pennsylvania with Fair Districts PA
Fair Districts Pennsylvania
Episode: The new gerrymandering battles
Emma Addams
Leader at Mormon Women for Ethical Government, involved in redistricting efforts in Utah
Mormon Women for Ethical Government
Episode: The new gerrymandering battles
Cynthia Miller-Idriss
Professor at American University and author of "Man Up! The New Misogyny and the Rise of Violent Extremism"
American University
Episode: How misogyny fuels political violence
Kathy Roberts Forde
Faculty member at UMass Amherst and leader of Stand Together for Higher Ed
UMass Amherst
Episode: Standing up for higher education
Mark Pachucki
Faculty member at UMass Amherst and leader of Stand Together for Higher Ed
UMass Amherst
Episode: Standing up for higher education
Ben Rhodes
Writer, political commentator, national security analyst, and fellow podcaster.
Pod Save the World
Episode: Ben Rhodes on America's changing role in a changed world
Kamy Akhavan
Managing director of the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future.
USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future
Episode: Ben Rhodes on America's changing role in a changed world
Stephanie Gerber Wilson
Creator of the podcast Freedom Over Fascism, with extensive communications experience.
Freedom Over Fascism
Episode: Ben Rhodes on America's changing role in a changed world

Hosts

Chris Beam
Co-host and Managing Director of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy, focusing on democratic principles and community engagement.
Jenna Spinelli
Co-host and leader of the Democracy Group Podcast Network, focusing on the intersection of democracy and civic engagement.
Cyan Loyle
Co-host focused on democratic engagement and community actions.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 95 ratings
  • Food for thought

    This show approaches each topic from a thoughtful POV and offers up perspectives from people who have expert knowledge. They don’t hammer a point or yell and rant, but instead discuss and deliberate. A perfect example of how democracy works by Democracy Works!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IvyVirginia
    United States4 years ago
  • Leader in Podcasts on Democracy

    Jenna has been a large help for my own podcast, Democracy Paradox. Her leadership of the Democracy Group has influenced many democracy podcasts. Eternal thanks to her contours work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    justin kempf
    United States5 years ago
  • Deep Analysis; Better Than Anything on Mainstream

    I appreciate this group’s analysis, as it seeks to understand our political culture dispassionately and not to fan the outrage we see in shoddy and “clickbait” journalism.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MimiWuj
    United States5 years ago
  • While the podcast purportedly is about democracy as an institution, it really is nothing other than a exercise in reducing all of political science to Trump. Considering these are acedemics at Penn, it makes me worry about political science if this presestism is the whole of the field now. being that most of the analysis isn't even based is history more than the last news cycle, it is really just a pundit pod. That's fine, it's just not about 'Democracy'.

    Podcast Addict
    2
    phetus
    5 years ago
  • More than just politics!

    The Democracy Works podcast is a great snapshot of our country and how the workings of the government influences each of us as Americans. Jenna Spinelle is always on point bringing thought provoking content to her listeners with every episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mizsimone
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The podcast is praised for its deep analysis of current events related to democracy, standing out as a reliable source of information.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtful perspectives shared by knowledgeable guests, making complex topics accessible without sensationalism.
Many find the episodes not only informative but also inspiring, encouraging active civic participation and engagement among audiences.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#177
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#243
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#180
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#81
Austria/Government
Apple Podcasts
#85
Mexico/Government
Apple Podcasts
#93
New Zealand/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How mental health shapes democratic engagement [rebroadcast]
Q: What motivated you to study the connection between politics and depression?
Ojeda became interested in how politics shapes emotions due to personal observations following significant political events like the 2016 election, leading to a focus on how political conditions contribute to mental health challenges.
Inside the MAGA black hole
Q: Do you try to bring them in or do you... engage the MAGA movement more broadly?
It’s important to recognize that engaging with the MAGA movement might not be effective due to their entrenched beliefs.
Inside the MAGA black hole
Q: What do we do about all this?
We need to be more intentional about democracy work and recognize the efforts we are already making.
An update on the states
Q: How are election administrators feeling about threats to their work?
Election administrators continue to feel pressured and threatened, despite recent elections being relatively smooth; the culture of mistrust in elections persists.
An update on the states
Q: What has been the impact of the nationalization of local politics?
The nationalization of local politics has made certain state policies inconsistent with voter preferences, especially concerning voting rights and election laws.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Democracy Works

What is Democracy Works about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The focus of the podcast revolves around various aspects of democratic life, exploring topics such as voting rights, criminal justice reform, and the role of the free press. It features insightful interviews with experts in academia and practitioners who actively contribute to the democratic process, providing a well-rounded perspective on current issues affecting democracy. Notably, the podcast emphasizes that each individual plays an essential role in fostering a vibrant democracy, engaging listeners with the notion that collective efforts can create significant change. This makes the series unique in not only analyzing theoretical concepts but also highlighting practical actions individuals can take to support democratic values.

Where can I find podcast stats for Democracy Works?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Democracy Works. 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 Democracy Works and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Democracy Works get?

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What are the audience demographics for Democracy Works?

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How many subscribers and views does Democracy Works have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Democracy Works has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Democracy Works?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Democracy Works:

1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. Radio Atlantic
3. Democracy Decoded
4. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
5. The David Frum Show

How many episodes of Democracy Works are there?

Democracy Works launched 8 years ago and published 680 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 Democracy Works?

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 Democracy Works?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Democracy Works from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Democracy Works?

Recent guests on Democracy Works include:

1. Judge Marjorie Rendell
2. Carol Kuniholm
3. Emma Addams
4. Cynthia Miller-Idriss
5. Kathy Roberts Forde
6. Mark Pachucki
7. Ben Rhodes
8. Kamy Akhavan

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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