Ep. 7: Gray Sasser and TJ Ducklo: Nashvillians Who Bring Unique, Insightful Perspectives About Leadership, Democracy and the State of Play in Washington Politics

Ep. 7: Gray Sasser and TJ Ducklo: Nashvillians Who Bring Unique, Insightful Perspectives About Leadership, Democracy and the State of Play in Washington Politics

Author: Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller January 9, 2023 Duration: 1:09:32

Climbing the Charts sits down with Gray Sasser, Executive Director of The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and Democracy, and TJ Ducklo, Chief Communications Officer and Senior Adviser to Nashville Mayor John Cooper and former National Press Secretary for the Biden 2020 Campaign and Deputy Press Secretary to the President.

Listen in as these two gentlemen share why writing well is one of the most important skills any high school student with an interest in politics could possibly learn, why we should all be paying attention to the Vanderbilt Unity Index, why college students are yearning for the next Robert Kennedy, what the 2022 mid-term elections tell us about the state of democracy in America today, and how reality itself is constructed in the age of social media. 


Climbing the Charts with Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller is a conversation about the forces that shape our daily lives, from local policy to global scientific discovery. Angie and Brandon aren't just observers; they're active participants who believe understanding these complex systems is the first step toward genuine involvement. This podcast digs into the news and social currents that might feel abstract, making them tangible and relevant to your own neighborhood. You'll hear discussions that connect political decisions with their real-world impact, explore how scientific advancements alter our social fabric, and question what it means to build a meaningful community in a fragmented world. Each episode is an invitation to look closer and think deeper, offering perspectives that help you navigate the information landscape with more clarity and purpose. Tune in for a thoughtful analysis that refuses to separate science from politics, or social trends from personal responsibility, all with the aim of fostering a more informed and connected citizenry. Find Climbing the Charts wherever you listen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 55

Climbing the Charts with Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 55: Tennessee's Childcare Conundrum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:04
Childcare in Tennessee isn't just a family issue—it's an economic one, a workforce one, and increasingly, a political one. Across the state, parents are struggling to find affordable, reliable care. Providers are stretch…
Ep: 54: Is Gino's Bulso's Bible Bill Constitutional? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:09
There's a bill of biblical proportions in the Tennessee Legislature. Some are questioning its constitutionality. State House Rep. Gino Bulso filed HB1419. The legislation, which Bulso refers to as the "Protecting Religio…
Ep. 49: Nashville Unhoused: Understanding Homelessness in Nashville [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:46
In March, the mayor's office announced the closing of one of the city's oldest and lagest homeless encampments — Old Tent City. The 40-year-old site sits just outside downtown, on Anthes Drive. 120+ people have called th…
Ep. 48: Spirit of Bipartisanship: Nuclear Energy in Tennessee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:29
Nuclear energy is part of Tennessee's past and present. Oak Ridge played an important role in the Manhattan Project during WW2, and today, 48% of our state's energy comes from nuclear energy. In this episode of the Spiri…