The Room Where It Happens is a political podcast by Not Just Headlines hosted by Lily Oatis, featuring conversations with candidates, community leaders, and political analysts. The show helps young voters understand local politics, elections, and the decisions that impact their communities so they can make informed choices at the ballot box.
How Social Media is Flipping Politics on Its Head | Hannah Preston, Influence NC
In this episode of The Room Where It Happens, we sit down with Hannah Preston, founder and executive director of Influence NC, a nonpartisan organization revolutionizing how young people engage with politics in North Carolina through social media. Hannah shares her journey from working in public health policy to quitting her job and starting a nonprofit that has grown from 6 creators to nearly 100 in less than a year. This conversation explores how social media is fundamentally changing the power dynamics in politics and why young people have a unique advantage in shaping the future of civic engagement.
Key Topics Covered:
How Hannah went from Health Policy Princess to founding Influence NC
The decision to quit her job and work at a bridal store while launching a nonprofit
Growing the creator program from 6 to 100 creators across North Carolina
Why North Carolina needs sustainable political infrastructure beyond election cycles
Training elected officials in their 70s, 80s, and 90s to use social media effectively
The future of political communication for reaching young voters
Organizing 14 early voting parties across North Carolina counties
Making voting fun and reframing civic engagement as joyful resistance
Why local and state elections matter more than DC politics for your daily life
Advice for young people organizing in rural areas without large communities
Navigating pushback from the Board of Elections and other established institutions
How social media flips traditional power dynamics in politics
The need for more young voices building organizations in North Carolina
Balancing personal political opinions with nonpartisan nonprofit work
00:00:00 Introduction: The Power of Social Media in Politics
00:01:05 Meet Hannah Preston: Founder of Influence NC
00:02:06 From Health Policy Princess to Influence NC
00:03:43 How Public Policy Work Translates to Social Media Impact
00:05:54 Taking the Leap: Quitting Her Job to Start a Nonprofit
00:07:53 Building the Creator Program: From 6 to 100 Creators
00:11:21 Why North Carolina? Building Sustainable Infrastructure
00:14:11 Training Elected Officials to Use Social Media
00:18:07 The Future of Political Communication for Young Voters
00:21:13 Early Voting Parties and Campus Organizing
00:23:52 Making Voting Fun: Reframing Civic Engagement
00:25:07 Local Elections Matter: Shifting Focus from DC to State Government
00:26:49 Advice for Young People in Rural Areas
00:29:36 Navigating Pushback: The Board of Elections Story
00:34:03 Flipping the Power Dynamic with Social Media
00:35:20 The Need for More Young Voices in North Carolina Politics
00:36:50 Balancing Personal Opinions with Nonpartisan Work
00:39:16 Connect with Influence NC and Health Policy Princess
Hannah's story demonstrates that young people don't have to wait their turn to make an impact in politics. By leveraging social media and building community driven infrastructure, she's proving that authentic engagement and digital organizing can create real change at the state level. Whether you're interested in becoming a creator yourself, running for office, or simply understanding how to make your voice heard in North Carolina politics, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical pathways forward.
💬 How do you think social media is changing politics?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
Follow Influence NC on all platforms
Follow Health Policy Princess for more unfiltered political commentary
#InfluenceNC #NorthCarolina #YoungVoters #SocialMediaPolitics #CivicEngagement #NCpol #notjustheadlines
11 Aug 2026
The Real Reason Young People Can’t Get Elected | Kyah Creekmore
In this episode of The Room Where It Happens, we sit down with Kyah Creekmore, who at just 23 years old, launched a congressional campaign in North Carolina's 5th District. Kyah shares his unconventional journey into politics, running a grassroots campaign with minimal resources that ultimately captured over 43% of the primary vote against an opponent who raised 33 times more money. This conversation explores why young people face such significant barriers to elected office and what it takes to break through them.
Key Topics Covered:
What inspired a 23 year old to run for Congress after the 2024 presidential election
Why Kyah chose a congressional race over local office despite having no political experience
The mental and emotional toll of running for office as a young candidate
Raising $7,500 versus an opponent's $250,000 and still winning 43% of the vote
The reality of facing entrenched politicians who have been in office for decades
Why traditional campaign strategies like TV ads are becoming obsolete
How to reach rural and Appalachian communities as a young progressive candidate
The power of personal storytelling versus facts and numbers in political campaigns
Building community through third places and grassroots organizing
Why transparency and rejecting corporate money matters for maintaining voter trust
The importance of midterm elections and down ballot races for real change
00:00 Introduction: Why a 23-Year-Old Decided to Run for Congress
01:32 The Presidential Election That Changed Everything
02:52 Why Congress Over Local Office?
04:31 Running Without Political Mentors
06:32 Conquering Anxiety and Stage Fright on the Campaign Trail
08:34 Building Your Support System as a Young Candidate
13:08 Policy Platform
15:07 Conversations with Voters
17:01 Staying Accountable: People-Powered Campaigns
19:07 Building Community Beyond Politics
19:56 Running From the Bottom With All Passion
21:12 43 Percent with 7,500 Dollars: The Primary Results
24:20 Taking On Virginia Foxx: Challenging a Political Powerhouse
29:34 Overcoming Corporate Influence
32:58 Beyond TV Ads: Reaching Voters in the Digital Age
35:32 Mobilizing Young Voters Through Representation
36:42 Should You Run for Office? Honest Advice for Young Activists
39:34 The Midterm Election
42:12 Closing Thoughts
Kyah's story challenges the conventional wisdom that you need decades of experience, corporate backing, or a legal career to run for office. He demonstrates that with passion, authenticity, and a willingness to meet voters where they are, young candidates can compete even in the most unlikely races. Whether you're considering running for office yourself or simply want to understand why our political system seems designed to keep young voices out, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical insights.
💬 Do you think more young people should run for office?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
#YoungPoliticians #GrassrootsCampaign #NorthCarolina #CongressionalRace #PoliticalChange #notjustheadlinesmeadia #NCpol
15 Jul 2026
Everything You Need to Know About the NC State Budget | NC Budget & Tax Center
In this episode of The Room Where It Happens, we sit down with Sally and Moriah from the North Carolina Budget & Tax Center to break down everything you need to know about North Carolina's state budget. They explain the budget process from start to finish, why North Carolina has been operating without a new budget for multiple years, and what that means for everyday North Carolinians.
Key Topics Covered:
How the NC state budget process works and where it gets funding
Why North Carolina missed the budget deadline and operated on old spending levels
The impact of scheduled tax cuts on state revenue and public services
Teacher pay raises and what they really mean for educators
How federal, state, and local budgets are connected
The upcoming constitutional amendments on the November ballot
What happens to programs like SNAP when funding shifts between government levels
Whether you're a first time voter or just want to understand how your tax dollars are being spent, this conversation makes state budget policy accessible and relevant to your everyday life. Sally and Mariah help connect the dots between tax policy decisions in Raleigh and the real pressures families face with rising costs for housing, child care, groceries, and more.
💬 What questions do you have about North Carolina's budget?
Drop them in the comments below!
Learn more at ncbudget.org
#NCBudget #NorthCarolina #StateBudget #TaxPolicy #PublicEducation #notjustheadlines
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Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100
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YouTube
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Engagement
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