Unfiltered Marketing for a New Generation of Candidates and Causes

What This is

  • Interview-driven podcast with YouTube-ready video featuring:

  • Real-time strategy breakdowns of campaigns and causes.

  • Tactical, step-by-step “how-to” episodes.

  • Unfiltered, cross-generational host banter (Gen X + Gen Z lens).

  • Designed to be evergreen training content, not hot-take political chatter.

  • Every episode answers one question: “What should I actually do this week to grow votes, volunteers, and small-dollar donors?”

Mission

To democratize high-level digital marketing so first-time candidates, grassroots organizers, and emerging nonprofits can build real power - even without big money or big staff.

Vision

  1. Down-ballot races and local causes don’t lose because they ignored digital.

  2. Candidates from underrepresented communities can bypass old gatekeepers and build their own lists, donors, and believers.

  3. Ethical, modern digital practices become the norm - not the luxury of top-of-ticket campaigns.

Why THis Audience

Who we’re built for

  • First-time candidates and down-ballot campaigns.

  • Scrappy organizers and campaign staffers juggling 5 jobs.

  • Emerging nonprofit founders and movement-builders.

  • Digital-native volunteers and young staffers trying to “figure out the internet” inside old-school political structures.

Their reality

  • No budget, no list, no staff.

  • Invisible to traditional donors and institutional media.

  • Hungry for specific, actionable marketing playbooks they can implement in 10-60 minutes at a time.

Audience Potential

They may be underdogs today, but they are:

  • The next wave of Executive Directors, Chiefs of Staff, campaign managers, and elected officials.

  • The ones choosing tech stacks, tools, training, and vendors for their orgs.

They are digital natives:

  • Comfortable buying online.

  • Looking for trusted recommendations they can take straight to their treasurer, board, or candidate.

They control and influence:

  • Grassroots giving and recurring small-dollar donations.

  • Volunteer networks, field programs, and local partners.

  • Purchasing decisions on SaaS tools, training, ad platforms, texting tools, CRMs, merch, and creative services.

For sponsors, this isn’t just audience reach - it’s early relationship-building with the next generation of decision-makers.

The core problem we’re built around

  • Progressive politics still treats “digital” as:

    • A line item, not a core organizing channel.

    • Something you bolt on once field is already set.

  • Down-ballot candidates are told:

    • “Knock more doors” and “make more calls” - but not how to:

      • Build a landing page that actually converts.

      • Create a textable list in 30 days.

      • Turn content into volunteers and donations.

  • RESULT: Candidates lose and companies shutdown because of missing digital infrastructure.

This Moment in Politics

We exist to fix that gap - relentlessly, practically, and in public.

Why We’re Different

Most political podcasts:

  • Obsess over polls, vibes, and “who’s up / who’s down.”

  • Feature Beltway personalities talking to each other.

  • Offer "vibes", not repeatable tactics.

The Democratic Dilemma:

  • Strategy + execution: from subject lines and ad creative to volunteer funnels and SMS scripts.

  • Built specifically for down-ballot and movement work, not just presidential cycles.

  • Culture-aware and identity-aware:

    • We don’t tell guests to “water it down to win.”

    • We show how to honor identity and still convert.

We’re not neutral: we’re pro-winning for liberal and progressive candidates & causes.

The Team / Our Hosts

Mary Noone

Gen X Strategist & Campaign Operator

  • Mary brings field-tested political strategy, data-driven organizing, and deep Indiana experience.

  • Deep experience in corporate marketing and branding, translating Fortune 500-level rigor to under-resourced campaigns.

  • Known for turning “no budget, no list, no staff” operations into clean messaging, workable funnels, and tight field-digital integration.

Josh Stanley

Gen Z Agency Founder & Digital Native

  • Josh brings a Gen-Z lens, brand-building chops, and culture-first storytelling.

  • Storyteller, strategist, and founder building values-first brands in fashion, wellness, and mental health

  • Gen Z strategist for political campaigns, leading launches, content systems, and measurable revenue programs

Together

  • We span Gen X pragmatism + Gen Z digital fluency.

  • We’re not pundits - we’re operators who do this work with campaigns and causes between episodes.

  • Together, they turn values into belonging - and belonging into action, votes, and advocacy.

Prf of Concept

We’re not starting from zero - we’ve already filmed Season One.

Guests already include:

  • Former Pennsylvania Secretary of Education - discussing education, equity, and communicating complex policy in a TikTok world.

  • A marketing specialist with Nike and Adidas experience - translating global brand playbooks into local campaign tactics.

  • Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something - on recruiting and sustaining a bench of young, diverse candidates.

Season One is fully filmed, with episodes rolling out across podcast platforms and video.

This isn’t an idea. It’s a live show with real names.

Episode Format

  • 45-60 minute episodes.

  • Mix of:

    • Full Episodes with deep-dive interviews with candidates, organizers, and marketers.

    • Clips with tactical “labs” breaking down one campaign asset: a landing page, email series, ad set, or text ladder.

Format & Distribution

Distribution

  • Audio on major podcast platforms.

  • Video-ready episodes for YouTube and social clips.

  • Companion digital assets:

    • Simple templates, checklists, and scripts that listeners can download and use the same day.

Two Ways to Partner

Advertisers

one-off, campaign-style buys

  • No long-term commitment.

  • Ideal for:

    • Launching a new tool, training, or product.

    • Promoting time-bound programs (cohorts, conferences, application windows).

    • Testing creative and messaging with a high-intent audience.

Learn more

Sponsors

longer-term partners

  • Integrated into the show narrative and ecosystem.

  • Ideal for:

    • Organizations investing in this audience over time.

    • Brands that want to become synonymous with powering the next generation of campaigns and causes.

Learn more

Spotlight Advertiser
Single Episode

  • Pre-roll mention (host-read).

  • 30-60 second mid-roll explaining your offer and ideal user.

  • Placement in episode show notes with link + one CTA.

for Advertisers

Learn more

Action Partner
CTA Feature

  • Everything in “Spotlight,” plus:

  • A custom “10-Minute Action” segment built around your product, tool, or training.

  • Inclusion in 1 social promo post tied to that episode.

Learn more

Takeover Advertiser
Episode Takeover

  • Exclusivity: you’re the only advertiser on that episode.

  • Integrated storytelling:

    • Hosts share their experience with your product or service.

    • Short Q&A with someone from your team or a power user (pre-recorded).

  • Optional: listener offer (discount, free trial, or bonus) to drive trackable sign-ups.

Learn more

for Sponsors

Segment Sponsor

  • Naming on a recurring segment (e.g., “The 10-Minute Action is powered by [Your Org]”).

  • Presence in every episode that segment appears over a defined period (ex. 4-8 episodes).

  • Logo and link on episode pages and related downloads for that segment.

Learn more

Season Supporter

  • “Presented in partnership with [Your Org]” in Season [X] open/close.

  • Mid-roll storytelling about your mission and how you support this audience.

  • Logo placement on:

    • Season assets (cover art variations, YouTube description, website page).

  • Optional: co-branded bonus episode or live virtual training featuring your team.

Learn more

Anchor Sponsor

  • Category-exclusive (e.g., only texting platform; only training org; only CRM).

  • Season billing: “The Democratic Dilemma, presented by [Your Org].”

  • Deep integration:

    • Custom mini-series (2-3 episodes) aligned with your mission.

    • Co-created resources (templates, guides) shared with our audience.

  • Opportunities for:

    • Private focus groups with listeners.

    • List-building collaborations (opt-in webinars, live labs, or virtual events).

Learn more

Timeline

Where we are now

  • Season One: fully filmed.

  • Episodes featuring high-credibility guests (state leaders, national organizers, and brand marketers) are in the release pipeline.

  • Early episodes are live / rolling out as we build a consistent release cadence.

What’s next

  • Expand publishing to YouTube and social-first clips.

  • Layer in companion resources and mini-trainings.

  • Secure anchor sponsor(s) and recurring advertiser partners for upcoming seasons and specials.

You’re not betting on a concept. You’re joining a project that has already shipped an entire season and is ready to scale.

Hyper-targeted audience of progressive decision-makers and emerging leaders.

  • Evergreen content that continues to work for you long after the initial air date.

  • Hosts who are:

    • Deeply networked in campaign and nonprofit spaces.

    • Actively doing the work your audience cares about - not just talking about it.

  • A show obsessed with measurable action:

    • Every episode includes concrete next steps.

    • That makes your ads and sponsorships more likely to convert.

Why Partner With Us

Contact & Next Steps

Let’s talk about how we can help you power the next generation of campaigns and causes.

Mary Noone - Co-Host // Content Producer
mary@democraticdilemma.com

Josh Stanley - Co-Host // Executive Producer
josh@democraticdilemma.com