Shows / Taking Initiative
Taking Initiative
Take a deep dive into the citizen ballot initiative process in Ohio — from roadblocks and challenges to what worked, and why.
Episodes
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
"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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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.
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
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…
- Taking Initiative
'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…
- Taking Initiative
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…