Ever looked at your ballot and thought, “Wait, what does this actually mean?” Or felt so overwhelmed by political headlines and campaign ads that you’d rather tune it all out? Girl, you’re not alone—and this conversation is for you.
This week on Write Your Own Story, Betsy sits down with Dr. Shauna Riley, a political science professor at Northern Kentucky University, for an honest, approachable conversation about becoming a more informed and confident voter. The goal isn’t to tell you how to vote. It’s to help you understand your choices and feel ready to make them for yourself.
Together, they unpack why midterm and local elections deserve our attention, how decisions made by school boards and city councils affect our everyday lives, and where to start when researching candidates and ballot measures. Shauna shares ways to make sense of confusing ballot language, look beyond the noise of campaign ads, and learn where candidates stand on the issues that matter to you.
They also explore how to approach political conversations with curiosity and respect, why you don’t have to agree with someone to stay connected, and how to move from feeling overwhelmed to taking action. With a focus on Ohio and Kentucky, this episode offers practical takeaways for voters everywhere.
You don’t have to become a political expert to use your voice. Start by looking up your ballot, asking questions, and making a plan. Your ballot is a page in your story—and nobody else gets to write it for you.
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