The Campaign Strategist

Pete Maysmith has been doing this work for over 30 years — from Rocky Flats protests in fifth grade to leading one of the country’s most powerful environmental electoral organizations. As President of the League of Conservation Voters, he oversees hundreds of millions of dollars in electoral and advocacy spending across a 30-state affiliate network.In this conversation, we don’t spend much time on the doom. We spend it on the strategy.**What you’ll hear in this episode:**- Why energy affordability — not carbon policy — is the entry point for reaching persuadable voters right now- How LCV is running AI-assisted, neighbor-to-neighbor video ads in a Michigan congressional district to hold Republicans accountable for higher utility bills- Why the movement needs to think culturally, not just politically, to break through a fragmented media landscape- How public lands became a rare piece of genuine bipartisan common ground — with MAGA hats showing up at LCV rallies- What it means to defend democracy as a prerequisite for environmental progress- And why the goal after Trump can’t just be to restore what existed beforePete’s closing piece of advice, passed on to him early in his career, stayed with me: ”Everybody needs hope and heroes . . . We have to believe and we have to give people belief. And if we do that, people will show up.”This is exactly the kind of conversation The Campaign Strategist exists to have — candid, strategic, and focused on what it actually takes to build power and win.If you find these conversations useful, please share this with someone who’d benefit. It’s the best way to help the show grow.Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

Kristen Grimm, founder of Spitfire Strategies, joins Pete to discuss what it really takes to win advocacy campaigns in today’s fractured media environment. Drawing from her updated campaign planning guide, Planning to Win, Kristen explains why campaigns must define concrete victories instead of defaulting to “raising awareness,” and why declining public trust is one of the biggest threats to public interest work. She argues that hope is not the same as optimism — hope requires agency and a clear path forward. The conversation explores how to balance blocking harmful policies with building toward affirmative solutions, how to choose the right moment to act, and how campaign leadership and frontline voices shape outcomes. For advocates navigating turbulent political times, this episode offers both discipline and encouragement.Get the planning guide here: https://spitfirestrategies.com/tools/planning-to-win/Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

In this episode, Pete talks with Dr. Jiggy Geronimo, a neuroscientist-turned-strategist and founder of JG Insights, about building powerful progressive narratives. Jiggy shares why poll-tested messaging often fails—and how an “emotions first, content first” strategy can drive real resistance and mobilization. From confronting fascism to channeling public anger into action, this conversation is a guide to narrative power in dangerous times. "Narrative is about the words, but it's also about the visuals," says Jiggy. "It's also about the stories. It's also about the feelings. And we don't...on the left, take that holistic approach to narrative."Subscribe to Jiggy's newsletter here. Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

In this episode of The Campaign Strategist, Pete talks with Jenifer Fernandez Ancona, Co-Founder and Chief Strategist at Way to Win, and co-host of Charting the Way Forward, about how progressives can thrive in a radically transformed media environment.Jenifer shares how she went from journalist to movement strategist — and how that journey shaped her understanding of what it takes to compete in an attention economy dominated by emotion, culture, and decentralized media. She explains why campaigns must merge organizing and media instead of treating them as separate worlds, and how creators, storytelling, and cultural authenticity can move people in ways policy briefs never will.If you care about how progressives can break through the noise — and build real narrative power — don’t miss this one. Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

In this episode, Pete Altman talks with media strategist and Counter Stream Media founder Shilpi Chhotray, who makes a powerful case for rethinking how we build power for climate justice. Shilpi shares why she’s stepped back from the mainstream climate movement—and why philanthropy’s failure to fund narrative work and frontline leadership is holding the movement back. From global organizing to launching a frontline-led media outlet, she outlines how narrative strategy, not just comms, can shift hearts, policy, and power. “We’re not winning the narrative war,” she warns, “because we’re not investing where it counts.” Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

Tara Buss, Senior Director of Research at the Research Collaborative, joins The Campaign Strategist to unpack what she calls "competitive authoritarianism" in the U.S.—a state that mimics democracy while systematically undermining it. She and Pete explore why mass non-compliance is critical, how narrative strategy can shape resistance, and why polling shouldn’t lead progressive strategy. “The rules of the game have changed,” she warns. “We can’t wait until 2026—we have to act now.” This is a compelling, clear-eyed look at the fight to preserve democracy. Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

What can Sun Tzu teach us about winning political power in 2025?In this new episode of The Campaign Strategist, I talk with Eric Hensal—veteran progressive strategist, author of A Progressive Art of War and host of the podcast Progressive Conjecture—about applying timeless military strategy to modern political challenges.We explore:Why progressives often lose not because of the opposition, but because of strategic misstepsHow to think like an organizer and a generalThe importance of deception, clarity, and preparation in narrative and coalition workWhy “knowing the ground” matters more than moral certaintyWhat Biden, rural outreach, and “melting ICE” can teach us about smart campaignsEric’s approach is provocative, practical, and rooted in decades of experience across labor, government, and political campaigns.#PoliticalStrategy #CampaignStrategy #Advocacy #ProgressivePolitics #NarrativeStrategy #MovementBuilding #TheCampaignStrategistFind and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

Messaging maven and strategist Anat Shenker-Osorio joins Pete to unpack the mechanics of narrative, the seductive power of repetition, and why too much progressive messaging sounds like it came from a law school textbook. From “Florida fascism facilities” to “start how you want to finish,” Anat brings clarity and conviction to the question of how we talk about political danger—and what we should say instead. This is a sharp, funny, and necessary conversation about how to build power through language. Follow Anat's Substack Words to Win by and check out her firm's work: ASO Communications.Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

Durrell Johnson helped lead the campaign to stop Mark Robinson’s run for governor in North Carolina—and in doing so, created a roadmap for defeating far-right extremism. In this episode, he explains how local groups built trust, centered impacted communities, and reached even conservative voters who felt the danger. “This wasn’t just about what Robinson said—it was about what would happen if he held power.” A must-listen for campaigners and communicators heading into 2026. Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

Liz Kazal of the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy joins The Campaign Strategist to talk about why Republican members of Congress are starting to feel real political risk over their support for Trump’s tax and budget bill—and how her team is keeping the pressure on. From Medicaid cuts to economic messaging, Liz shares how organizers can turn pain into power—and why being “relentless” is the only path forward in today’s political climate. Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

Nick Ahamed, Deputy Executive Director of Priorities USA, joins Pete to break down the changing media landscape and what progressives must do to keep up. From the emotional resonance of abortion ads to why YouTube is essential for reaching young and diverse voters, Nick shares sharp insights on message testing, digital strategy, and long-term infrastructure. “You can’t talk to gamers and beauty YouTubers the same way—our messaging has to match the niche.”Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

In this episode of The Campaign Strategist, Pete talks with Dani Negrete, National Political Director at Indivisible. Dani shares why “we don’t have four years to fix things,” drawing on lessons from recent campaigns and historical trends in authoritarian movements. They discuss how grassroots movements can sustain resistance, why cultural organizing is essential, and how to build power at the local level. A must-listen for anyone interested in advocacy, movement-building, and progressive political strategy.Find all episodes at substack.tcspod.com or https://www.youtube.com/@TheCampaignStrategistFind and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

Pollster and strategist Saeed Mousavi joins The Campaign Strategist to explain why Democrats are losing emotional traction—and what it takes to reconnect. From risk-averse messaging to outdated research models, Saeed makes the case for a new, emotionally resonant strategy built for today’s media landscape.Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

Michael Podhorzer joins host Pete Altman to talk about what really happened in the 2024 election—and why the fight ahead isn’t about restoring the old order, but building a new one. From the failures of civil institutions to the importance of unions and organizing, this is a powerful conversation for anyone trying to navigate the Trump Era with clarity and strategy.Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

In this episode of The Campaign Strategist, Rich Schrader and Kate Sinding Daly take us inside the eight-year campaign that led New York to ban fracking—making it the first state with significant gas deposits to stop the practice. Rich is the Director of New York Government Affairs at NRDC. At the time, Kate was Senior Attorney and Deputy Director of NRDC’s New York Program. She is now Vice President of Law and Policy at the Conservation Law Foundation.They share how their team, alongside grassroots allies, built public pressure, commissioned polling the state couldn’t ignore, and demanded scientific and moral accountability from their own movement.Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

What happens when clean energy jobs face a political headwind—and how can business leaders fight back? In this episode of The Campaign Strategist, Bob Keefe of E2 joins Pete for a two-part conversation. First, they discuss how the Trump administration’s attacks on clean energy are stalling billions in investment and job creation. Then, they rewind to Bob’s original interview about the strategies E2 uses to mobilize unexpected messengers—businesspeople—for climate advocacy. If you want to understand how economic arguments win policy fights, this one’s for you.Learn more about E2: https://e2.org/Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

Political strategist and labor organizer Chuck Rocha, founder of Solidarity Strategies, joins Pete Altman on The Campaign Strategist to talk about why progressives are losing touch with working-class voters—and how to fix it. From his start as a teenage union steward in Texas to running Latino outreach for Bernie Sanders, Chuck shares hard-won lessons on strategy, cultural competency, and building lasting political power.About Chuck: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-rocha-476a6276Solidarity Strategies: https://www.solidaritystrategies.com/Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

On this week’s pod, I had the joy of talking with the wonderful Melissa Waage — a brilliant strategist, long-time environmental advocate, and now VP of Advocacy & Engagement at Sandy Hook Promise.We dig into campaign strategy fundamentals, what it really takes to move decision-makers, why preparation and storytelling matter so much, and how to keep people engaged even through long, hard fights (looking at you, Inflation Reduction Act!). Plus, Melissa shares the best piece of advice she ever got and why self-care matters for campaigners.Sandy Hook Promise: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

Environmentalist, strategist and leader Mark Magaña joins The Campaign Strategist to talk about the need for long-term vision and investments in growing progressive political power, how to think like a White House staffer when asking them for help, and his approach to building up the infrastructure of the movement. Mark is the Founding President & CEO of GreenLatinos, a co-founder of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition, and serves on the boards of the League of Conservation Voters, Green 2.0, and the Children’s Environmental Health Network.Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

Friend and colleague George Rakis joins The Campaign Strategist today as we talk about his role leading the Climate Action Campaign from 2011 - 2018, which resulted in the first national carbon standards ever to be promulgated in the U.S. That's where I got to know George, from recommending him to run the campaign to my boss at NRDC to my role as senior advisor to the campaign. George came from a long electoral career which included running various Congressional and statewide campaigns, to senior roles in the Michigan Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee. George brought his electoral experience and his curiousity to one of the biggest challenges in politics: notching a win on climate policy. Find George here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-rakis-vote/About The Campaign Strategist: The podcast is produced by host Pete Altman's Prismatic Strategies, a consulting firm providing clients a spectrum of strategic and innovative campaign solutions. Find and subscribe to the pod here:https://open.spotify.com/show/59uQ3geyMCz6RfPTgYs26lhttps://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e2b88ed5-8ba2-43c0-819d-8f4c7eeb9049https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-campaign-strategist/id1787457171or wherever you get your podcastsPodcast home: TCSPod.comContact The Campaign Strategist: [email protected] us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/prismatic-strategies-llc/?viewAsMember=true)Reach us on Bluesky social at: https://bsky.app/profile/campaignstrategist.bsky.social The Campaign Strategist is produced by Prismatic Strategies, LLC (https://www.prismaticstrategiesllc.com/). Hosted by Pete Altman. Music by Andrea Perry (https://andreaperry.tv/) and Pete Altman. Edited by Abby Altman.Check out Pete's Medium blog (https://medium.com/@PeteAltman)Thanks for listening!Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

In this episode of 'The Campaign Strategist,' host Pete Altman interviews Danielle Droitsch, an environmental advocate and executive coach. Danielle shares her journey into environmental advocacy, beginning with a college protest against Exxon. The conversation delves into campaign strategies, including power mapping and decision-maker analysis. Danielle emphasizes the importance of focused, strategic actions over broad mobilization efforts, using examples from her work on campaigns like the Keystone XL pipeline and various watershed and wilderness protection initiatives. She also discusses coalition management, the significance of engaging diverse groups, and the challenges of getting collective agreements on strategies. The episode concludes with Danielle reflecting on advice from mentors and the importance of maintaining relationships with decision makers.Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

Reverend Lennox Yearwood Jr. joins us for a thought-provoking conversation about culture, advocacy and much more. President and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus and host of The Coolest Show podcast, Yearwood's activism was spurred by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which highlighted the need to address climate issues in his community. Our conversation delves into his philosophy that culture is central to effective activism, describing how actions rooted in cultural engagement can bridge divides and rally communities. Yearwood discusses the Hip Hop Caucus's methods, like incorporating comedy and music into their campaigns, and emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing resistance when forming strategies. We get into how the white-dominance of the environmental movement dampens its reach and power, and Reverend Yearwood touches on his philanthropic work which aims to redirect resources to marginalized communities.  The dialogue highlights the integral link between culture and systemic change and underscores the importance of genuine, diverse engagement in advocacy efforts.Show Notes: Follow Rev Yearwood on BlueSky at @revyearwood.bsky.socialOrganizations & projects brought up in today’s episode:  Hip Hop CaucusThe Coolest ShowBank Black and Green Underwater ProjectsGreen 2.0Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

In this episode, Pete interviews Tom "Smitty" Smith, a seasoned advocate who shares insights and personal stories from decades of organizing, advocating, and lobbying. The discussion covers the essential elements of successful advocacy, including the importance of coalition-building, strategic adjustments, empowering community members, and the art of creating a 'hero's path' for opponents. Learn how to identify key issues, find effective solutions, and mobilize diverse groups to create impactful change.Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky 

The Campaign Strategist host Pete Altman introduces the show and what it's about: the art and science of advocacy. Find and subscribe:Substack and your favorite platforms.Contact: [email protected] us on LinkedIn and Bluesky