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What It Takes

Unmoderated News
Democratic Party
Rahm Emanuel
Israel
Cleveland
Immigration
Education Reform
Illinois
Republican Party
Universal Health Care
Housing Affordability
Public Safety
Affordable Housing
South Texas
Cost Plus Drugs
Catherine Cortez Masto
Economic Concerns
Community Colleges
Chicago
Fox News
Joe Walsh

What It Takes with Sarah McCammon is a new podcast from Unmoderated News, that examines the personal stories that shape a new generation of leaders and the political and policy battles they fight to make change. Through intimate conversations with elected officials, political commentators, advocates, and community leaders, "What It Takes" unpacks the origin stories behind today's combative centris... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes16Founded4 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for What It Takes

Latest Episodes

Elissa Slotkin arrived in New York City as a student one day before 9/11—and before the smoke cleared, she knew what she wanted to do with her life. She went on to serve in the CIA, did three tours in Iraq, and worked in the White House under two pre... more

Brooke Jenkins was a homicide prosecutor in San Francisco when she walked out the door and helped lead a campaign to fire her own boss. That boss was one of the most famous progressive prosecutors in America. He had promised fewer prosecutions and a ... more

Tom Suozzi grew up in a family where public service was the family business. His father immigrated from Italy, and flew bombing missions over Europe during World War II, before becoming a mayor. Suozzi went on to follow his father into politics.

Tod... more

Ken Salazar comes from a part of Colorado with a complicated history that has shaped the way he understands immigration and identity. Salazar has represented his home state in the U.S. Senate, served as President Obama’s Interior Secretary, and more ... more

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Recent Guests

Tom Suozzi
Congressman, former New York politician
U.S. House of Representatives (New York)
Episode: Tom Suozzi: The Trump Country Democrat Pushing His Party to the Middle
Ken Salazar
Former U.S. Senator from Colorado, former Interior Secretary, and former Ambassador to Mexico
Former U.S. Government
Episode: Ken Salazar on Immigration, the Border, and the Future of the Democratic Party
Justin Bibb
Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio
City of Cleveland
Episode: Justin Bibb on Winning City Hall at 34
Mark Cuban
Entrepreneur and investor
Cost Plus Drugs
Episode: Mark Cuban Has a Plan to Fix Health Care
Jackie Payne
Founder and executive director of Galvanize Action
Galvanize Action
Episode: Jackie Payne on the Moderate Women Who Decide Elections
Joe Walsh
Former congressman with a trajectory from Tea Party to Democrat
Democratic Party
Episode: Joe Walsh and Yemisi Egbewole Diagnose the Brand
Yemisi Egbewole
Political commentator and former Biden White House communications lead
Fox News (commentator)
Episode: Joe Walsh and Yemisi Egbewole Diagnose the Brand
Bobby Pulido
Tejano music star running for Congress in South Texas
Democratic candidate for Congress (South Texas)
Episode: Bobby Pulido: The Quinceañera Candidate
Nikki Budzinski
Congresswoman from Illinois
Congressional Office
Episode: Nikki Budzinski Works the Floor, Not the Feed

Host

Sarah McCammon
Host of What It Takes

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 20 ratings
  • good new show

    The host is excellent, and this first episode has an interesting guest. Worth a listen!

    Audible
    5
    Amazon Customer
    United States3 months ago
  • It takes leadership

    This was a great interview uncovering what it takes to cut through politics and make a difference for people. I love the idea of a COO role in government to help coordinate among agencies to get things done.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VB Hokie
    United States3 months ago
  • Interesting new podcast

    I enjoyed the first episode of What it Takes. I like the focus on figuring out how to solve our most pressing problems through changing how government works. I can’t wait to listen to the next episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TracyofJackson
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the focus on tangible wins and governance pragmatism.
Thoughtful, policy-forward conversations that avoid soundbites.
Great for understanding how leaders translate policy into real outcomes.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tom Suozzi: The Trump Country Democrat Pushing His Party to the Middle
Q: What is the Promise to America and why is it important?
It's a framework with six components (capitalism, safety, fiscal discipline, pride in America, government solving problems, and a practical, non-extremist approach) designed to reanchor the party to mainstream concerns and broaden appeal beyond polarized bases.
Tom Suozzi: The Trump Country Democrat Pushing His Party to the Middle
Q: What caused you to pursue a more centrist, rebuilding-focused political posture?
A combination of experiences, including personal history, the realities of polarizing politics, and seeing how institutions can work when people cooperate. He emphasizes returning to traditional Democratic values and building broad coalitions rather than catering to extremes.
Jackie Payne on the Moderate Women Who Decide Elections
Q: How should candidates present themselves to moderate white women to gain trust?
They should be strong and capable, but also diplomatic and empathetic, delivering tangible solutions while avoiding polarization and grandstanding.
Jackie Payne on the Moderate Women Who Decide Elections
Q: What will it take to get a woman elected in today's political climate?
A candidate must demonstrate genuine care and understanding of families' economic pressures, show that they will deliver on affordability and security, and communicate a believable plan in a trustworthy, non-corrosive way.
Justin Bibb on Winning City Hall at 34
Q: What do you remember about your grandma's neighborhood and why did she get involved?
Her role as a block watch captain and citizen leader showed how everyday neighbors contributed to safety and community resilience, illustrating how local organizing can scale into city-wide public safety culture.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About What It Takes

What is What It Takes about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on in-depth conversations with progressive-leaning policymakers and political leaders, focusing on origin stories, practical policy wins, and how centrists navigate polarized environments. Episodes emphasize bipartisanship, governance pragmatism, and concrete steps to address everyday costs of living, with guest profiles spanning governors, senators, and mayors who highlight local-to-national impact. Noteworthy are the emphasis on listening to communities, policy experimentation, and leadership under pressure, often pairing personal narratives with policy critique to reveal how leaders translate values into tangible results.

Where can I find podcast stats for What It Takes?

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

How many listeners does What It Takes get?

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What are the audience demographics for What It Takes?

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How many subscribers and views does What It Takes have?

To see how many followers or subscribers What It Takes 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 What It Takes?

These podcasts share a similar audience with What It Takes:

1. The Opinions
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. On with Kara Swisher
4. Impolitic with John Heilemann
5. Hacks On Tap

How many episodes of What It Takes are there?

What It Takes launched 4 months ago and published 16 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 What It Takes?

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 What It Takes?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for What It Takes from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for What It Takes?

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What guests have appeared on What It Takes?

Recent guests on What It Takes include:

1. Tom Suozzi
2. Ken Salazar
3. Justin Bibb
4. Mark Cuban
5. Jackie Payne
6. Joe Walsh
7. Yemisi Egbewole
8. Bobby Pulido

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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