Participation Trophy

EP03: Alt-Utah, What Democrats are Missing About the Beehive State

Two powerhouse organizers are flipping the script on Utah politics by proving that even the reddest states can be ripe for progressive change. Topher Williams is joined by Jackie Morgan and Gabi Finlayson, the co-founders of Elevate Strategies, for a conversation that challenges the way we think about political possibility in places like Utah. If a state has been red for decades, does that mean it will always stay that way? And what happens when people on the ground start organizing differently, not with big budgets or national headlines, but through relationships, trust, and showing up?
 
Jackie and Gabi talk about what brought them back to Utah after years of working on campaigns across the country, and why they saw a need for deeper investment in local candidates and issues. Jackie shares how her mom introduced her to politics by knocking on doors in their neighborhood, and how that early experience shaped her sense of what real community work looks like. Gabi opens up about the moment she realized she couldn’t walk away from this work, even when the wins felt far off.
 
They’re not interested in top-down strategies or generic playbooks. Instead, they focus on listening, educating, and meeting people where they are, especially in places where politics often feels distant or out of reach. They also dig into what makes Utah such a unique political landscape: a fast-growing population, a deeply rooted culture of service, and a generation of young voters who are shifting left in big numbers.
 
This episode invites a different kind of political imagination. What if we stopped waiting for swing states to save us? What if real change could start anywhere, with the people already in the room? Whether you’ve canvassed before or are just starting to pay attention to local politics, Jackie and Gabi offer a grounded, hopeful take on how movements begin and what it takes to keep them going.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Transforming Utah’s Political Landscape
06:11 Personal Stories Behind the Activism
09:05 Understanding Utah Voters and Identity
12:08 Where Change Is Happening
17:57 Strategies for Winning in Red States
21:14 How Real Impact Takes Root
31:21 The Power of Political Storytelling
35:25 How to Get Involved in Local Politics
45:14 Final Thoughts and Community Connection
Elevate Strategies:
https://www.elevatecampaignstrategies.com/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/elevate-strategies-ut/ 
https://www.instagram.com/elevate_utah/ 
 
Connect with Gabi Finlayson:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-finlayson/ 
https://www.instagram.com/gabifinlayson/ 
https://x.com/gabifinlayson/  
 
Connect with Jackie Morgan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-morgan-9b7a44149/ 
https://www.instagram.com/jpmorgan01/ 
 
Connect with Topher Williams:
https://www.participationtrophypod.com/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/topher-williams-1a477264/ 
https://www.instagram.com/tophmcgoph/
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP02: How Old is Too Old to Run for Office?

Most of America’s political power sits in the hands of people nearly twice the median age, but Amanda Litman is working to change that by helping a new generation step into office.
Topher Williams talks with Amanda about the age gap in American leadership and what it means for the future of the country. Why are so few elected officials under 40? What happens when the same people hold power for decades without making room for new voices? Amanda shares how Run for Something has helped more than 1,500 young people win office across 49 states, and why she believes the next wave of leadership needs to look and lead differently.
Amanda reflects on her own path into politics, from skipping school to see Barack Obama speak to launching a national movement after the 2016 election. Along the way, she raises questions that anyone considering public service should ask: What does good leadership actually look like? How do we balance authenticity with responsibility? And what gets lost when no one’s preparing the next person to take the baton?
This episode is an invitation to think seriously about power, potential, and the kind of country we’re building. If you’ve ever wondered whether you're the kind of person who could run for office, Amanda’s answer is simple: if you care, you’re ready.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 The Age Gap in Leadership
02:59 Empowering Young Leaders
05:59 Redefining Good Leadership
08:51 The Call for Younger Leadership
12:11 The Importance of Succession in Leadership
14:49 Encouraging Young People to Run for Office
17:58 Millennial Nostalgia
 
Connect with Amanda Litman:
https://runforsomething.net/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandalitman/ 
https://www.instagram.com/amandalitm/ 
https://www.facebook.com/amanda.litman/ 
https://www.tiktok.com/@amandalitman 
 
Connect with Topher Williams:
https://www.participationtrophypod.com/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/topher-williams-1a477264/ 
https://www.instagram.com/tophmcgoph/
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP01: Pride and Prejudice, How to Thrive After Surviving a Mass Shooting

Content Warning: This episode includes discussions of gun violence and the Pulse nightclub attack.Brandon Wolf, activist and National Press Secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, shares how surviving the 2016 Pulse Nightclub mass shooting transformed his life, and why he’s dedicated himself to fighting for LGBTQ+ safety, belonging, and justice.
On this episode of Participation Trophy, Brandon joins Topher Williams to trace the personal and political journey that brought him to the frontlines of advocacy. From growing up gay in rural Oregon to building a life in Orlando with a chosen family, Brandon paints a vivid picture of the search for identity and community. That search was shattered the night a gunman entered Pulse Nightclub, killing 49 people, including Brandon’s best friend Drew and his partner Juan.
Brandon opens up about the aftermath of that night, the weight of survival, and the moment he realized that comfort wasn’t enough. He had to fight so others could feel safe, too. He discusses the founding of The Dru Project, an organization supporting LGBTQ+ youth and Gay-Straight Alliances across the country, and shares how its work continues to give him hope through the next generation of changemakers.
From hard-won policy victories to the quiet power of local organizing, Brandon reminds us that activism isn’t a solo effort. Activism is rooted in community, shared purpose, and the courage to imagine something better. This episode is a meditation on grief, resilience, and the urgent need to protect lives and legacies in the face of violence.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 The Journey to Activism
05:08 Reflections on Gun Violence and Hope
10:02 Honoring Legacy and Creating Change
15:00 Resilience and the Power of Collective Action
20:02 Personal Growth and Activism
23:51 Fun and Connection in Activism
 
Connect with Brandon Wolf:
https://brandonwolf.us/ 
https://thedruproject.org/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonjwolf/ 
https://www.instagram.com/brandonjwolf/
https://www.facebook.com/bjoewolf1/ 
https://x.com/bjoewolf 
 
Connect with Topher Williams:
https://www.participationtrophypod.com/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/topher-williams-1a477264/ 
https://www.instagram.com/tophmcgoph/
 
If you or someone you know has been impacted by gun violence, contact the Brady campaign at https://www.bradyunited.org/To support the LGBTQ community in Florida, make a donation to Equality Florida at https://www.eqfl.org/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Participation Trophy - Trailer

Join host Topher Williams as he sits down with Millennial do-gooders and changemakers on an unfiltered and (extremely) unscientific quest to discover if participation trophies actually made Millennials unstoppable.