How to Be a Purposeful Warrior to Preserve Democracy with Jocelyn Benson

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Aug 27, 2025

Jocelyn Benson, Michigan's Secretary of State and election law expert, shares her journey from a fearful 20-year-old confronting the KKK to a fierce advocate for democracy. She discusses the emotional toll of defending voting rights amid violent protests and the importance of grassroots activism to combat gerrymandering. Jocelyn emphasizes moral courage over immediate success in the fight against injustice, drawing inspiration from historical figures. Her insights on the role of individuals in empowering change offer a compelling call to action.

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INSIGHT

Fighting With Purpose

A purposeful warrior is someone who decides to be the hero of their own story and fight with intentional goals.
The approach reframes challenge as opportunity to build resilience and pursue a clearer vision for the common good.

ANECDOTE

One Facebook Post Changed Maps

Katie Fahey turned a single Facebook post after 2016 into Voters Not Politicians and eliminated gerrymandering in Michigan.
Her grassroots campaign expanded voting access and enshrined reproductive freedom in the state constitution.

INSIGHT

How Gerrymandering Works

Gerrymandering manipulates district lines to predetermine electoral outcomes by grouping or splitting voters.
Fair maps let communities choose representation and restore competitiveness instead of guaranteeing one-party control.

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What happens when the Secretary of State becomes a target for standing up to the most powerful person in America? Meet Jocelyn Benson, Michigan's fearless Secretary of State who has faced down violent mobs, presidential threats, and assassination lists—all while protecting democracy and voting rights. From her undercover work investigating the KKK as a young journalist to her current run for Michigan governor, Jocelyn embodies what it means to be a "purposeful warrior" in her new book of the same name. In this gripping conversation, Guy explores how Jocelyn transformed from a scared 20-year-old confronting white supremacists to a Harvard-trained election law expert who refuses to back down from bullies—even when they occupy the highest office in the land.

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Guy Kawasaki is on a mission to make you remarkable. His Remarkable People podcast features interviews with remarkable people such as Jane Goodall, Marc Benioff, Woz, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Bob Cialdini. Every episode will make you more remarkable.

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