PODCAST · news
Taking Initiative
by Ohio Ballot Protection
Take a deep dive into the citizen ballot initiative process in Ohio — from roadblocks and challenges to what worked, and why.
Episodes
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Candidate Conversation with Justice Jennifer Brunner | Ohio Supreme Court 2026
What role should the Ohio Supreme Court play when citizen initiatives, ballot language and the powers voters have reserved for themselves end up in court? In this Taking Initiative: Candidate Conversation, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner, a candidate for reelection in 2026, joins Ohio...
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Spotlight: Another trip to the Statehouse
What happens when citizens ask lawmakers to pause mega data center development—and hear “absolutely not”? In this Taking Initiative Spotlight, Conserve Ohio’s Nikki Gerber joins Ohio Ballot Protection’s Laura Lucarelli to recount her September 30 Statehouse visit, efforts to secure a moratorium,...
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The Power Is Ours: How Ohio Won Direct Democracy | Mike Curtin (S2 Ep4)
How did Ohioans gain the power to bypass their elected representatives and take issues directly to the ballot? Journalist, former state legislator and Ohio historian Mike Curtin joins Taking Initiative to take us back to 1912 — a pivotal year when Ohio embraced the initiative and referendum and...
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Spotlight: When Citizens Don’t Wait... Conserve Ohio’s Next Move
What happens when a statewide citizen initiative becomes something much bigger? In this Taking Initiative: Spotlight on an Initiative, we catch up with Conserve Ohio attorneys Nick Owens and Austin Baurichter as their effort to restrict large data centers moves forward on multiple fronts. Since…
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Neighbor by Neighbor: How People Build Power | Rev. Ray Greene, Freedom BLOC (S2 Ep2)
How does an everyday concern become a ballot initiative — and ultimately, a law? Rev. Ray Greene of Freedom BLOC joins Taking Initiative to share a remarkably straightforward organizing philosophy: listen to people, build relationships and start local. Greene takes us inside Freedom BLOC's work…
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When the People Push Back: Chris Melody Fields Figueredo (S2 Ep1)
What happens when people use direct democracy to challenge power — and power pushes back? Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, Executive Director of the BISC (http://www.ballot.org), joins Taking Initiative to explore the national landscape of citizen-led ballot measures and the growing fight to…
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The Power Is the People’s | Theodore Roosevelt, Ohio, 1912.
In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt came to Columbus to address the Ohio Constitutional Convention as delegates reconsidered how power should be shared between government and the people. In his landmark speech, A Charter of Democracy, Roosevelt argued that initiative and referendum should give citizens a...
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Spotlight: Conserve Ohio lawyers encourage local initiatives
What happens when a statewide citizen initiative hits a roadblock? Conserve Ohio attorneys Nick Owens and Austin Baurichter share how their movement is taking direct democracy local — helping Ohio communities use their own power to address mega data centers. Their work also offers a preview of...
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"What's in it for ALL of us?" Recap Season 1 with Laura and Pat
In this episode, Taking Initiative co-hosts Laura Lucarelli and Patricia Blackmon debrief on what they've learned while interviewing the changemakers in Ohio's direct democracy over the last few months. Plus, Pat turns the mic on Laura to learn how the podcast came to be. They talk about direct...
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Spotlight: Conserve Ohio sets new signature goal & attends weekly commissioners meeting
In our Spotlight on an Initiative, the Conserve Ohio group announces 2027 is the new target for getting on the ballot. Then three of the initiative leaders attend a weekly commissioners meeting and voice concerns with others in the community about plans for a data center being built in Adams...
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New goal for Ohio Equal Rights and Right to Marry
Ohio Equal Rights and Right to Marry Amendment petitions moved their goal from getting on the ballot from 2026 to 2027.
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Spotlight: Conserve Ohio attorney Austin Baurichter says "Step on the path"
Meet Conserve Ohio volunteer Austin Baurichter, part of the attorney duo who drafted the petition to ban mega data centers in Ohio. Austin talks about quitting his job when he found himself at a moral crossroads so he could help his neighbors through Conserve Ohio. Learn how he and a second...
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Spotlight: Nikki testifies at the Ohio Statehouse
In our Spotlight on an Initiative (Ban Mega Data Centers OH Initiative), Conserve Ohio takes advantage of an opportunity to provide public testimony to Ohio's Select Committee on Data Centers. It was a long day for Nikki Gerber and others who traveled from Southern Ohio to the Statehouse to voice...
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Inside a split initiative: The path forward - Ohio’s Equal Rights and Marriage Equality initiatives
In this episode, we sit down with Lis Regula, co-chair of the Ohio Equal Rights ballot initiative effort, to talk about how the group is moving forward after the Ohio Ballot Board split their initiative into two separate issues: equal rights and marriage equality. He shares why the group decided…
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How Signature Gathering Really Works: Ballot Initiative 101
To make the ballot, a citizen initiative or referendum requires hundreds of thousands of signatures statewide. But the challenges go beyond the sheer number of signatures required. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the signature-gathering process with Richard Margolius, who shares lessons...
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Onsite at the Libertarian Party of Ohio's Convention: Views on Direct Democracy
In this episode, Ohio Ballot Protection checks in with attendees of the Libertarian Party of Ohio's Convention in Dayton last week to hear their views on ballot initiatives and direct democracy.
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Meet Ohio's Secretary of State Candidates: Tom Pruss (Libertarian Party)
In this episode, we sit down with Ohio Secretary of State Candidate Tom Pruss (Libertarian Party) to hear his views on direct democracy and the citizen-led ballot initiative process. Note: Ohio Ballot Protection does not endorse political candidates.
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Meet Ohio's Attorney General Candidates: John Kulewicz (Democratic Party)
In this episode, we sit down with Ohio Attorney General Candidate John Kulewicz (Democratic Party) to hear his views on direct democracy and the citizen-led ballot initiative process. Note: Ohio Ballot Protection does not endorse political candidates.
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Meet Ohio's Attorney General Candidates: Elliot Forhan (Democratic Party)
In this episode, we sit down with Ohio Attorney General Candidate Elliot Forhan (Democratic Party) to hear his views on direct democracy and the citizen-led ballot initiative process. Note: Ohio Ballot Protection does not endorse political candidates.
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Meet Ohio's Secretary of State Candidates: Allison Russo (Democratic Party)
In this episode, we sit down with Ohio Secretary of State Candidate Allison Russo (Democratic Party) to hear her views on direct democracy and the citizen-led ballot initiative process. Note: Ohio Ballot Protection does not endorse political candidates.
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Meet Ohio's Secretary of State Candidates: Marcell Strbich (Republican Party)
In this episode, we sit down with Ohio Secretary of State Candidate Marcell Strbich (Republican Party) to hear his views on direct democracy and the citizen-led ballot initiative process. Note: Ohio Ballot Protection does not endorse political candidates.
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Meet Ohio's Secretary of State Candidates: Bryan Hambley (Democratic Party)
In this episode, we sit down with Ohio Secretary of State Candidate Bryan Hambley (Democratic Party) to hear his views on direct democracy and the citizen-led ballot initiative process. Note: Ohio Ballot Protection does not endorse political candidates.
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Spotlight: Meet Ohio’s latest ballot initiative proposal: banning mega data centers
We sit down with Emily Harper and Danielle Kinhalt, members of a group called Adams County for Responsible Development, which has just submitted its petition and initial 1,000 required signatures for a proposal that would ask Ohioans to vote on capping the energy new data centers can draw from…
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Grassroots Referendum: Inside the Campaign to Defeat Ohio SB 1
We sit down with Mandy Fehlbaum, a Youngstown State University professor who helped to lead a referendum to repeal Ohio Senate Bill 1, which placed new restrictions on DEI and collective bargaining at public colleges and universities in the state. We talk about the challenges the grassroots group...
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What ballot measures are underway in the US? Ohio Ballot Protection at BISC 2026
Ohio Ballot Protection co-chair Laura Lucarelli talks with attendees at BISC's Road Ahead 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio, last week to hear what direct democracy advocates across the country are working on.
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Catherine Turcer of Common Cause Ohio on Ballot Initiatives: What Works, and What Needs To Change.
In this episode, we sit down with Catherine Turcer, executive director of Common Cause Ohio, to talk about how the citizen ballot initiative works. Ohio is one of just 26 states that offer its citizens the power of ballot initiative, referendum, or both. This form of direct democracy is critical…
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'I wanted to make a difference': Get to Know Co-Host Patricia Ann Blackmon
Laura Lucarelli sits down with Taking Initiative co-host Patricia Ann Blackmon to talk about how she ended up in Ohio, her biggest influences, and why protecting the citizen ballot initiative process is so important to her.
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Welcome to Taking Initiative, a podcast about citizen ballot initiatives and the people's power.
Welcome to Taking Initiative, a podcast that takes a deep dive into the citizen ballot initiative process in Ohio — from roadblocks and challenges to what worked, and why. Join our hosts, former 8th District Appellate Court Judge Pat Blackmon and Ohio Ballot Protection co-chair Laura Lucarelli…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Take a deep dive into the citizen ballot initiative process in Ohio — from roadblocks and challenges to what worked, and why.
HOSTED BY
Ohio Ballot Protection
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Taking Initiative have?
Taking Initiative currently has 28 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Taking Initiative about?
Take a deep dive into the citizen ballot initiative process in Ohio — from roadblocks and challenges to what worked, and why.
How often does Taking Initiative release new episodes?
Taking Initiative has 28 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Taking Initiative?
You can listen to Taking Initiative on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Taking Initiative?
Taking Initiative is created and hosted by Ohio Ballot Protection.
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