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 worked, and why. Join our hosts, former 8th District Appellate Court Judge Pat Blackmon and Ohio Ballot Protection co-chair Laura Lucarelli, as they explore the unique power that Ohio's constitution gives voters in the state and how Ohioans are using it today.
Candidate Conversation with Justice Jennifer Brunner | Ohio Supreme Court 2026
October 7, 2026 Taking Initiative, S2 Ep5
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner joins Taking Initiative for a Candidate Conversation about direct democracy — and what happens when citizen initiatives end up before Ohio's highest court.
Ballot language. Data-center initiatives. Judicial dissents. Partisan labels. And the role of the courts when citizens exercise their constitutional powers.
How Ohio Won Direct Democracy | Mike Curtin
September 29, 2026 Taking Initiative, S2 Ep4
How did Ohioans gain the power to bypass their elected representatives and take issues directly to the ballot? Mike Curtin brings a rare perspective to the conversation. After 38 years in journalism covering government and politics, he crossed from the press gallery into the Ohio Statehouse as a legislator. Now he writes and speaks about Ohio history, public policy and the continuing importance of an informed citizenry.
Spotlight: When Citizens Don’t Wait... Conserve Ohio’s Next Move
September 23, 2026 Taking Initiative, S2 Ep3
What happens when a statewide citizen initiative becomes something much bigger?
In this Taking Initiative: Spotlight on an Initiative, we catch up with Conserve Ohio attorneys Nick Owens and Austin Baurichter as their effort to restrict large data centers moves forward on multiple fronts.
Neighbor by Neighbor: How People Build Power | Rev. Ray Greene, Freedom BLOC
September 14, 2026 Taking Initiative, S2 Ep2
Want to change something in your community? Rev. Ray Greene's advice might surprise you: Start by talking to your neighbors.
Learn how The Freedom BLOC has turned everyday conversations into community organizing, new leaders — and citizen-led ballot initiatives in Akron.
When the People Push Back: Chris Melody Fields Figueredo
September 7, 2026 Taking Initiative, S2 Ep1
Self-proclaimed Ohio fangirl and Executive Director of Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC) talks about this year’s national landscape of ballots — and Ohio’s unique role in direct democracy.
The power is the people’s, and only the people’s.
August 27, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep18
In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt came to Columbus to address the Ohio Constitutional Convention as delegates reconsidered how power should be shared between government and the people.
In his landmark speech, A Charter of Democracy, Roosevelt argued that initiative and referendum should give citizens a direct path to act when representative government fails to represent them. Later that year, Ohio voters approved constitutional amendments establishing those powers.
Conserve Ohio lawyers encourage introducing and defending local initiatives to make Nov. 2026 ballots
August 7, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep17
"What's in it for ALL of us?" Recap Season 1 with Laura and Pat
June 29, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep16
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 direct democracy over the last few months. Plus, Pat turns the mic on Laura to learn how the podcast came to be. They talk about direct democracy, the importance of protecting the people's power, and "what's in it for all of us" by getting involved6
Inside a split initiative: The path forward — Ohio’s Equal Rights and Marriage Equality initiatives
May 25, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep15
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 the Ohio Ballot Board split their initiative into two separate issues: equal rights and marriage equality. He shares why the group decided to move forward with both initiatives at once, and what’s surprising him about the signature-gathering process so far.
How Signature Gathering Really Works: Ballot Initiative 101
May 10, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep14
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 signatures required. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the signature-gathering process with Richard Margolius, who shares lessons learned and roadblocks to watch for based on his experience with signature collection across several recent Ohio ballot initiative campaigns.
Onsite at the Libertarian Party of Ohio's Convention: Views on Direct Democracy
April 28, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep13
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 ballot initiatives and direct democracy.
Ohio Ballot Initiative Candidate Interviews: Attorney General
April 24, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep12
Watch highlights from our interviews with candidates for Ohio Attorney General ahead of the May 5 primary election. See the full interviews on our podcast, Taking Initiative.
Ohio Ballot Initiative Candidate Interviews: Secretary of State
April 23 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep11
Watch highlights from our interviews with candidates for Ohio Secretary of State ahead of the May 5 primary election. See the full interviews on our podcast, Taking Initiative.
Meet Ohio's Secretary of State Candidates: Tom Pruss (Libertarian Party)
April 18, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep10
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 ballot initiative process.
Meet Ohio's Attorney General Candidates: John Kulewicz (Democratic Party)
April 17, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep9
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 ballot initiative process.
Meet Ohio's Attorney General Candidates: Elliot Forhan (Democratic Party)
April 17, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep8
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 ballot initiative process.
Meet Ohio's Secretary of State Candidates: Allison Russo (Democratic Party)
April 15, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep7
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 ballot initiative process.
Meet Ohio's Secretary of State Candidates: Marcell Strbich (Republican Party)
April 4, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep6
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 citizen-led ballot initiative process.
Meet Ohio's Secretary of State Candidates: Bryan Hambley (Democratic Party)
April 4, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep5
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 ballot initiative process.
Meet Ohio’s latest ballot initiative proposal: banning mega data centers
Mar 24, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep4
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 and initial 1,000 required signatures for a proposal that would ask Ohioans to vote on capping the energy new data centers can draw from the power grid. We hear about their tactics for gathering signatures in rural Ohio and what’s next in the process to get their initiative on the ballot.
Grassroots Referendum: Inside the Campaign to Defeat Ohio SB 1
Mar 23, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep3
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 restrictions on DEI and collective bargaining at public colleges and universities in the state. We talk about the challenges the grassroots group faced, what prevented them from getting the referendum on the ballot, and takeaways for other grassroots groups looking to run a referendum campaign.
What ballot measures are underway in the US? Ohio Ballot Protection at BISC 2026
Mar 17, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep2
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 advocates across the country are working on.
Catherine Turcer of Common Cause Ohio on Ballot Initiatives: What Works, and What Needs To Change
Mar 1, 2026 Taking Initiative, S1, Ep1
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 of just 26 states that offer its citizens the power of ballot initiative, referendum, or both. This form of direct democracy is critical to ensuring that citizens’ voices are heard, but it’s not without its obstacles. Listen to learn more about what works with the ballot initiative process in Ohio today, and where the process falls short of supporting the people’s power.
'I wanted to make a difference': Get to Know Co-Host Patricia Ann Blackmon
Mar 1, 2026 Taking Initiative, Season 1, Intro
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 protecting the citizen ballot initiative process is so important to her.
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