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Democracy Optimist
Hosted by Joshua Douglas

Democracy Optimist is a thought-provoking public radio series and podcast that delves deep into the heart of democratic processes, elections, and voting rights to ask a simple but vital question: how do we sustain our democracy? The series is hosted by University of Kentucky Election Law research professor Joshua Douglas, a passionate advocate for civic engagement, and produced by WEKU.

Ways To Subscribe
Latest Episodes
  • Monica Guzman
    Joshua Douglas talks to Monica Guzman, author of the best-selling book “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times.”
  • Erwin Chemerinsky
    Joshua Douglas speaks to Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of Berkeley Law School in California. Chemerinsky was cited by National Jurist magazine as the most influential person in legal education in the United States.
  • Laura Brill
    Joshua Douglas talks to Laura Brill, CEO and founder of the Civics Center, an organization that promotes voter registration among young people.
  • Joyce Vance
    Joshua Douglas speaks to Joyce Vance, a New York Times bestselling author, former United States Attorney, professor at the University of Alabama School of Law, and legal analyst for MS Now.
  • Jaime Lucke
    Joshua Douglas speaks to Jaime Lucke, Editor in chief of the Kentucky Lantern
  • Jacqueline Coleman
    Joshua Douglas speaks to Jacqueline Coleman, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky.
  • Richard Young
    Joshual Douglas speaks to Civic Lex founder Richard Young.
  • Eric Liu
    Joshua Douglas speaks to Eric Liu, author of Become America: Civic Sermons on Love, Responsibility, and Democracy.
  • Luisa Sanchez and Rachel Belin
    Host Joshua Douglas speaks to Boyle Co. H.S. senior Luisa Sanchez of the Kentucky Student Voice Team and KSVT managing partner Rachel Belin.
  • LaJuan Allen
    Host Joshua Douglas speaks to LaJuan Allen, the Executive Director of Vote16USA
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