United SHE Stands

In episode 194, we sit down with Scott Charland and Laura Sirot, two Democrats challenging red Ohio Senate districts, to talk about the issues driving their campaigns and what success looks like to them.
Scott Charland is running for Ohio Senate District 19 which includes Delaware, Coshocton, Holmes, and Knox Counties. Scott received his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and his master’s degree in Education from the University of Alabama- Birmingham. Scott is a former national and state champion powerlifter and has been a strength and conditioning coach for over 25 years. He currently works in health care as a Manager of Human Performance.
Scott is running to make Ohio’s public schools stronger, to implement stronger protection of Ohio’s natural resources, and to enact strong working class economic policies. Scott believes that politicians have lost sight of who they should really be serving, the working class and underrepresented, and have instead focused almost entirely on helping the wealthy and large corporations.
Scott is active in the community and serves on the Orange Township Parks Advisory Committee and is an active volunteer for the Ohio Nature Conservancy, Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, Friends of the Lower Olentangy (FLOW) and the American Red Cross.
Scott and his wife Tonya have been married 25 years and have a son who attends Ohio State University and a daughter in the Olentangy School District.
Scott’s Resources:
* Campaign Website
* Social Media:
* Instagram
* Facebook
Laura Sirot is running for State Senate in District 31 which includes Wooster, New Philadelphia and Zanesville, and parts of Massillon and Cambridge. She lives in Wooster, Ohio with her husband, Pete, and their two sons. She is a professor of Biology at The College of Wooster and has worked and lived in Wooster for the past 16 years. Her research mainly relates to understanding the reproductive biology of insect vectors of human pathogens and agricultural pests.
Laura is very involved in her local community in the areas of children and family services, sustainability, animal rescue, and science communication. She is co-founder and co-coordinator of the Wooster Science Café (now in its 14th year) which is a monthly forum for discussing science-related issues of public interest. She has been a foster parent for Wayne County Children Services and adopted a child through foster care. She continues to serve Wayne County Children Services as a Board member and through mentoring families and children. She has created programs for local animal rescue agencies, such as the K9 coach program where she trains students to work with recent adopters of dogs on common behavioral issues to decrease the number of returned dogs. She is very passionate about making Ohio and the world a safer place for current and future generations.
Laura’s Resources:
* Campaign Website
* Social Media:
* Instagram
* Facebook
We’re bringing together digital creators from across the state to build a powerful digital organizing network called Ohio Creators for Progress. Support and donate to this effort below! ⬇️
Connect with United SHE Stands:
* Substack
* Instagram
* TikTok
* YouTube
* Threads
* Buy us a coffee ☕️
This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:
* Website
* Instagram


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unitedshestands.com/subscribe

In episode 193, we sit down with a school counselor, union president, and superintendent to talk about vouchers, testing, and what’s really going on in Ohio’s public schools right now. Don’t worry! We also talk about how you can help - VOTE IN NOVEMBER! Thank you to Allie Childress, Jeff Talbert, and Paul Palomba for joining us.
Allie Childress is a School Counselor at Canton City Schools . She grew up in Akron, Ohio and graduated from Springfield Local Schools. She got her bachelors in Psychology and Sociology as well as her Masters of Education in School Counseling from Bowling Green State University. She spent two years in North Carolina working as a school counselor in elementary schools and relocated back to Ohio and is entering her fourth year in Canton City Schools as a middle school counselor and serves on the CPEA board as an organizer. She also helps run the social media campaign Stark Voices for Public Education which has a goal to get Stark County out to vote in favor of public education this November.
Jeff Talbert, Canton City Schools Superintendent, is an educational leader dedicated to providing high-quality teaching and safe, engaging learning environments that help students grow into confident, creative, open-minded learners. He returned to Canton City School District as Superintendent in August 2020, following seven years as Superintendent of Alliance City Schools, and previously served as Assistant Superintendent in Cleveland Heights-University Heights, Superintendent of Osnaburg Local Schools, and Principal of Canton McKinley Sr. High School. A Canton Timken Alumni Hall of Fame inductee, Jeff holds a BA from Muskingum University and a Master of Education from Ashland University.
Paul Palomba, Canton Professional Educators Association President, was born and raised in Canton. He graduated with degrees in Science and English from Kent State University and received his Masters in Curriculum from Marygrove College. He taught 7th grade English in Canton City Schools for 16 years while serving as a building representative and executive leadership team member for the union. He has been the President of the Canton Professional Educator Association (CPEA) since 2013 and served as co-chair of the Ohio 8 Coalition from 2022-2025. Thousands of students have learned from him over the years and he has helped guide thousands of educators in his positions with the union. His four children are all graduates of public schools and his wife is a graduate of and now educator in Canton City Schools.
We’re bringing together digital creators from across the state to build a powerful digital organizing network called Ohio Creators for Progress. Support and donate to this effort below! ⬇️
Connect with United SHE Stands:
* Substack
* Instagram
* TikTok
* YouTube
* Threads
* Buy us a coffee ☕️
This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:
* Website
* Instagram


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unitedshestands.com/subscribe

In episode 192, we sit down with Kristina Knickerbocker - the incredible candidate for Ohio's 10th Congressional District. We talk about why she's stepping away from patient care to run for office and why incumbent Mike Turner's record has left this district ready for someone new.
Kristina is running for Ohio’s 10th Congressional District, representing the Dayton area, including Montgomery County, Greene County, and part of Clark County. A U.S. Air Force Veteran, Oncology Nurse Practitioner, and mom of two, Kristina has dedicated her life to serving her country and community. She pursued nursing before joining the Air Force, serving as a major and nurse at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where she led efforts to improve medical care and readiness for service members and their families.
While in the Air Force Reserves, Kristina worked as a Neuro-Oncology Nurse Practitioner at The Ohio State University Medical Center, where she saw firsthand the toll of a broken healthcare system on cancer patients. Her own pregnancy nearly turned fatal when doctors failed to listen to her concerns, an experience that taught her the importance of patients advocating for themselves. Today, Kristina and her husband Bret are raising their two young children in the Yellow Springs area near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Resources:
* Kristina’s Campaign Website
* Email Kristina: info@kristinaknickerbocker.com
* Social Media:
* Instagram
* Facebook
* TikTok
* YouTube
* Threads
* X/Twitter
* Linktree
We’re bringing together digital creators from across the state to build a powerful digital organizing network called Ohio Creators for Progress. Support and donate to this effort below! ⬇️
Connect with United SHE Stands:
* Substack
* Instagram
* TikTok
* YouTube
* Threads
* Buy us a coffee ☕️
This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:
* Website
* Instagram


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unitedshestands.com/subscribe

In episode 191, we sit down with three candidates running for Ohio Statehouse seats in the Akron-Canton area - Noah Spinner (HD-31), Krista Allison (HD-49), and Nick Morris (HD-48). We talk about what’s driving them to run and where they stand on the issues shaping Northeast Ohio.
Noah Spinner is running for Ohio House District 31, which includes a large part of Cuyahoga Falls, Barberton, Norton, Bath, and Richfield. He is a lifelong Summit County resident, attorney, and someone who has lived the challenges facing our communities. Following the passing of his wife, Shelby, in April 2025 from cancer, Noah has sought ways to become even more engaged with his community and serve others, just as Shelby did. Noah is running for the Ohio House District to promote access to healthcare, restore funding for public education, and bring back affordability for working families.
Resources:
* Noah Spinner’s Campaign Website
* Social Media:
* Instagram
* Facebook
* YouTube
Raised in Stark County, Krista L. Allison is a change agent, collaborator, and servant leader. For over 20 years, Krista has held leadership roles at the state, county, and local levels in family & community engagement, academic & non-academic supports, and DEI&B. Krista currently serves at the Stark County Educational Service Center, State Support Team Region 9, and the Stark Education Partnership.
Krista serves in various capacities in Stark County, including volunteering at food bank ministries, leading in her church and women’s organizations, serving on multiple boards and vesting in community-wide conversations on equity. Her energy, leadership, work ethic, and authenticity have been recognized by numerous organizations. She has a passion for people and believes that implementing fair and equitable systems is the best way to ensure opportunities for everyone. Krista is on the November ballot as the Democratic candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives District 49.
Resources:
* Krista Allison’s Campaign Website
* Social Media:
* Instagram
* Facebook
Nick Morris, PhD, is the Director of Community Learning and Leadership at Walsh University where he teaches students how to unpack social issues and find purpose in working for the common good. He is running for Ohio House District 48, which includes North Canton, Louisville, Alliance, and Hartville.
He has spent the last two decades as an educator and collaborative community leader working to address issues such as food insecurity, housing crises, and access to education. He lives in Louisville with his wife, two children, two dogs, and a collection of farm animals.
Resources:
* Nick Morris’ Campaign Website
* Social Media:
* Instagram
* Facebook
We’re bringing together digital creators from across the state to build a powerful digital organizing network called Ohio Creators for Progress. Support and donate to this effort below! ⬇️
Connect with United SHE Stands:
* Substack
* Instagram
* TikTok
* YouTube
* Threads
* Buy us a coffee ☕️
This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:
* Website
* Instagram


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unitedshestands.com/subscribe

In episode 190, we talk with Ethan Nichols, founder of the PAC Future Without Fear, about flipping Ohio Statehouse races and rewriting the narrative on gun violence.
Ethan has built his career around advancing progressive causes in Ohio. He was propelled into activism after the 2018 Parkland, Florida shooting, when he founded Students for Gun Legislation, a student-led organizing and advocacy nonprofit.
Under his leadership, Students for Gun Legislation mobilized young people across the state to advocate for common-sense gun reform, register voters, and ensure young voices were heard in the political process. In 2022, he was invited to the White House for the signing of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
Since then, Ethan has built a career working on Democratic campaigns at every level of government. In 2024, he served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and was among the first Ohio delegates to pledge his support to Vice President Kamala Harris. He most recently founded Future Without Fear, a political action committee dedicated to electing gun-sense champions to the Ohio legislature.
Resources:
* Future Without Fear PAC Website
* Social Media:
* Instagram
* Threads
* X/Twitter
* Flippable/Focus Seats in Ohio Legislature!
* Statehouse:
* District 17 - Megan Coy
* District 31 - Noah Spinner
* District 35 - Samantha Salamon
* District 36 - Rose Lounsbury
* District 49 - Krista Allison
* District 52 - Mike Baker
* Senate:
* District 7 - Cara Jacob
* District 13 - Joe Miller
* Dems need to flip 6 seats to break the GOP Statehouse supermajority, and Northeast Ohio is pivotal - Ohio Capital Journal
We’re bringing together digital creators from across the state to build a powerful digital organizing network called Ohio Creators for Progress. Support and donate to this effort below! ⬇️
Connect with United SHE Stands:
* Substack
* Instagram
* TikTok
* YouTube
* Threads
* Buy us a coffee ☕️
This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:
* Website
* Instagram


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unitedshestands.com/subscribe