Great Ships with Taylor Culliver explores how South Carolina's leaders navigate the currents of politics, power, and possibility to help shape our future. Through candid conversations with candidates and elected officials, community organizers, and inspiring leaders, we dig into what it takes to build courage, grow political power, and fight for a more just, dignified South Carolina.
Great Ships with Taylor Culliver
Claim This Podcastby Taylor Culliver
5 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
Podcast Overview
Great Ships with Taylor Culliver explores how South Carolina's leaders navigate the currents of politics, power, and possibility to help shape our future. Through candid conversations with candidates and elected officials, community organizers, and inspiring leaders, we dig into what it takes to build courage, grow political power, and fight for a more just, dignified South Carolina.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
12/13/2025
1 verified contact email on file for Great Ships with Taylor Culliver
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
February 20, 2026
Meeting the Moment: Opposition, Courage, and Competing Everywhere // With Rep. Heather Bauer
<p>What does it mean to meet the moment when you’re outnumbered?In this episode of Great Ships, Taylor sits down with South Carolina State Representative Heather Bauer — the only Democrat to flip a State House seat in 2022 — for a candid conversation about opposition politics, persistence, and the long game of building power in a supermajority state.Heather reflects on her journey from a working-class childhood shaped by public support to losing early races, running again, and ultimately winning. She offers an inside look at the realities of serving in the minority: navigating pressure within the legislature, pushing her own party to show more fight, and using every available tool to slow harmful legislation and move good ideas forward.Together, they explore why competing everywhere matters — even in districts where victory isn’t guaranteed — how public engagement strengthens elected leaders’ ability to act, and what initiatives like The Comeback are trying to shift across South Carolina’s political landscape.At its core, this conversation is about courage: the courage to run, to dissent, to stay present, and to believe that democracy works best when more people step forward to participate.</p>
January 12, 2026
Momentum Is Everything: Rebuilding Electoral Muscle in South Carolina // with Brady Quirk-Garvan
<p>What does it take to win elections and rebuild durable political power in a state where Democrats have been locked out for decades?</p><p>In this episode of Great Ships, Taylor Culliver sits down with Democratic strategist and organizer Brady Quirk-Garvan for a wide-ranging conversation about momentum, discipline, and what it will take for Democrats to compete and win again in South Carolina.</p><p>Brady brings decades of experience from the trenches of South Carolina politics, including his time as Chair of the Charleston County Democratic Party, where Democrats flipped six seats and built lasting local infrastructure. Together, Taylor and Brady dig into how Democrats lost ground, why chasing “shiny object” races has weakened the party, and how rebuilding electoral muscle starts with local wins, honest strategy, and sustained investment.</p><p>This conversation is about power — how it’s built, how it’s lost, and how it can be reclaimed. It’s also a call to action: to run for office, to invest locally, to do the next scary thing, and to understand that momentum gets built cycle by cycle.</p><p>This episode explores:</p><ul><li><p>Why momentum is the single most important force in electoral politics</p></li><li><p>How Democrats rebuild power by focusing on local and down-ballot races</p></li><li><p>The importance of discipline, realism, and long-term strategy</p></li><li><p>Why breaking the supermajority matters</p></li><li><p>How money, messaging, and field work actually move votes</p></li><li><p>The role of county parties, the state party, and outside infrastructure</p></li><li><p>What keeps organizers and strategists showing up in exhausting times</p></li></ul><p>If you’re wondering how Democrats come back from stagnation and what you can do to help rebuild power where you live — this conversation is for you.</p>
January 1, 2026
The Slog Is the Work: Power, Pressure, and the Path for 2026 // with Phil Ford
<p><strong>What does it actually take to change policy — and keep showing up when the wins are slow?</strong></p><p>In this episode of Great Ships, I sit down with Phil Ford, founding partner of the Ford & Ford Group and one of South Carolina’s most respected voices as a lobbyist inside the State House, to take stock of where we are — and where we’re headed.</p><p>As we close out 2025, Phil helps us make sense of what laws passed, what stalled, who benefited, and why. We talk honestly about the growing divisiveness at the State House, the role of pressure and persistence in shaping outcomes, and what it will take to break the supermajority and build more Democratic power as we head into 2026.</p><p>We also dig into Phil’s personal story — how he found his way into this work, what sustains him through the slog, and why he believes showing up consistently still matters, even when progress feels painfully slow.</p><p>This conversation explores:</p><ul><li><p>What it actually takes to influence legislation in South Carolina</p></li><li><p>How inside strategy and public pressure work together to move power</p></li><li><p>Why competing everywhere — even in tough districts — changes the political landscape</p></li><li><p>What breaking the supermajority would mean in practice</p></li><li><p>How everyday people can find their place in the fight heading into 2026</p></li></ul><p>If you care about dignity, democracy, and meeting people’s basic needs — and want a clear-eyed look at the work required to get there — this episode is for you.</p>
5 total episodes available
Deep-dive analytics for Great Ships with Taylor Culliver
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Great Ships with Taylor Culliver?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.