Democracy for Who? Not You. The Truth About Ballot Access. With Bri Woodson

I don’t think we talk enough about where leaders actually come from—and what they’ve had to survive to get here. In this conversation, Bri Woodson shares a story that is anything but polished politics. Addiction. Trafficking. A suicide attempt. Medical neglect. Grief. And somehow, through all of that, she didn’t just rebuild—she decided to run for Congress. So I have to ask: why are we still being told leadership has to look a certain way? What hit me hardest is how broken the system really is once you’re inside it. Ballot access fees, party gatekeeping, backroom conversations trying to push candidates out before they even start—who is this system actually built for? Because it’s clearly not built for everyday people. And yet, those are exactly the people Bri argues we need more of. Not career politicians. Not millionaires. Real people with real stakes. We also get into what “progressive” even means anymore. Is it just branding? Or does it require backbone? Because saying the right things isn’t enough if you’re not willing to stand on them when it matters. Where is the line? And who’s actually willing to hold it? At the end of the day, this conversation challenges something bigger: do we actually want authentic leadership—or are we more comfortable with the illusion of it? Because you can’t have both. Find more info on Bri Woodson here: Bri Woodson For Congress Facebook TikTok The Controversial Blonde Learn more about stuff mentioned in the episode below: A Fever In The Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman who Stopped Them Chapters: 00:00 Meet Bri Woodson: A Trailblazer in Politics 02:00 Bri's Origin Story: From Addiction to Advocacy 12:44 Mental Health Struggles and Recovery Journey 19:08 Political Awakening: The Call to Action 25:15 The Fight Against Greed and Corruption 28:50 Barriers to Entry in Politics 34:01 Defining Progressivism 40:02 The Role of Women in Politics 49:01 The Fight for Representation 54:58 The Role of Social Media in Political Discourse 59:58 Accountability and Responsibility in Leadership 01:04:59 The Impact of Money in Politics 01:19:43 Empathy and Historical Trauma 01:23:57 Deconstructing Supremacy and Racism 01:29:53 The Legacy of Hate and Its Modern Implications 01:33:51 The Importance of Authentic Leadership Contact Tabitha: [email protected] https://tabithazeigler.com/