In this episode, host Carmelita (Cat) Tiu, welcomes Tamie, a passionate entrepreneur and political candidate, who shares her journey from being a single mom and business owner to running for Congress. Tamie discusses the importance of women's voices in politics, the unique challenges women face in leadership roles, and her commitment to bringing compassion and civility to government.
Content Highlights:
Tamie Wilson, an entrepreneur, single mom and an advocate for all Ohio families, who has made it her life’s work to help people live happier healthier lives. Tamie is also the 2024 Democratic candidate running for the U.S. House of Representatives for Ohio’s 4th Congressional District.
Tamie's "Get Things Done" and her no-nonsense approach to community service led Tamie into politics, especially after she had to shut down her business due to COVID-19. For Tamie, representing the people of Ohio's 4th Congressional district is about addressing the challenges facing Ohioans, most of which she has experienced personally.
With a robust professional background in sales, marketing, counseling, and leadership roles within small business and major corporations, she has helped to retain and create thousands of jobs over the last 23 years. Her proactive “Get Things Done” mindset and common-sense approach to community service and creating a flourishing economy naturally propelled her into the realm of politics,
In addition, she is deeply involved in work with veterans. Her grandfather was a WWII U.S. Veteran. As a community volunteer, Tamie has been active with the DCPAAA (Delaware Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association), Eagles, UCC (Unity Community Center), LWV (League of Women Voters), the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, End CAN, Kiwanis, and other efforts to prevent child abuse and programs to create healthy living.
To learn more and support Tamie, visit her campaign website: tamiewilson.com , follow Tammy on X (@tamieuscongress) and join the conversation on Facebook.
Connect with "Know Them, Be Them, Raise Them" on Instagram
About Your Host, Carmelita / Cat / Millie Tiu
Mom, spouse, coach, podcaster, wordsmith, legal eagle. Endlessly curious about how we can show up better for ourselves, our kids and those around us. Visit carmelitatiu.com to learn more about Cat, and for info on 1:1 coaching, the mom collective, and her monthly newsletter.
Know Them, Be Them, Raise Them
Subscribe here: Apple / Spotify and leave a 5-star review. You’ll forever have good karma and my gratitude!
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Welcome to know them, be them, raise them, a show to
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:help busy, mindful growth oriented
moms stay informed and inspired,
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:especially as they're navigating
their daughters tween and teen years.
4
:I'm Carmelita Tiu, an
unapologetic multihyphenate.
5
:I'm a mom of two girls, a wife,
a certified life coach for
6
:multi-passionate impact driven women.
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:Also an attorney for
creatives and a podcast host.
8
:Carmelita (Cat) Tiu, Host: So
my guest today is someone I was
9
:introduced to and as soon as I met
her, her energy and passion for the
10
:work that she does was palpable.
11
:Tammy is the 2024 democratic
candidate running for the us house
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:of representatives for Ohio's
fourth congressional district.
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:KA Tammy's proactive get things done
mindset and common sense approach
14
:to community service and creating a
flourishing economy naturally propelled
15
:her into the realm of politics.
16
:For Tammy Congress is an extension of her
lifelong commitment to community service.
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:She's an entrepreneur with corporate
marketing sales, counseling, and
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:leadership roles in her background.
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:She's a single mom and she's an
advocate for all Ohio families.
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:This being an election year with so many
issues on the table that impact women,
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:I thought it would be a fascinating
conversation to have, and I'm thrilled
22
:to have her as my guest today.
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:Uh, so without further ado,
Tammy, welcome to the podcast.
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:. And tell us a little bit about
yourself and your current endeavors.
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:Tamie Wilson: Yeah.
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:So I am, I don't know if I
should say I was a single mom.
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:My son is now 18.
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:Um, I'm also an entrepreneur and
granddaughter of a World war two veteran.
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:I was married to a Marine for about
years and in:
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:new business and when the pandemic
hit, I actually had to shut it down.
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:From that experience and watching
George Floyd die on TV and just so
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:many different things, you know,
I decided to get into politics.
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:And so now I am running for
Congress against a one of the
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:top GOP extremists, Jim Jordan.
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:And I'm very passionate about bringing
civility and Bringing the women's voice
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:to the forefront and inspiring women
to get involved in politics as well.
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:Carmelita (Cat) Tiu, Host: Yeah.
38
:So it's just recently that you
really leaned into politics.
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:Were there any other things that kind
of made it feel like this was the right
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:time for you for this to be possible?
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:Tamie Wilson: Yeah.
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:So I am a biracial woman and watching
the rise in racism in our country
43
:really concerns me and that really,
you know, sparked me into getting
44
:involved and actually doing something.
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:Watching the direction of our
country, you know, such Hate
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:and racism and such division.
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:Where are we headed?
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:It's not a good place, you
know, and that bothers me.
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:I believe that we do better
when we're all doing better.
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:I we're only as strong as our weakest
link and we have a lot of weak links.
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:I really strongly feel that, uh, Trump's
followers, they feel left behind and
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:forgotten . So I understand their
anger and disdain for the government.
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:However, people that a lot
of them are, following and.
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:exalting really don't
do anything for them.
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:And I feel that I cannot just be their
voice, but also their action taker
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:to bring the results that they would
really like to see in their future.
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:Carmelita (Cat) Tiu, Host: Hmm.
58
:So you mentioned at one point in our
earlier conversations that, being
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:a mother, Also kind of qualifies
you in a unique way for politics
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:and something you just touched on.
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:It sounded like you're really coming
at everyone, even if it on the
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:surface, they disagree with you.
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:You're really coming at it
with a sense of compassion.
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:Uh, so tell me a little bit about
maybe how being a mom like you
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:said, qualifies people for politics.
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:Tamie Wilson: Being a
woman qualifies people.
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:You know, we, we really
see the bigger picture.
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:We're multitaskers.
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:My experience has been, especially
with women entrepreneurs or business
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:leaders, uh, community leaders.
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:We are extremely compassionate
and worried about community.
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:The things that we do are to enrich
the community and to make the world
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:a better place for our children.
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:A lot of men are more worried
about money and power.
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:Women are more worried about safety
and progress from my experience.
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:Um, and so I think that having that
framework that vision in mind of, okay,
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:are we headed down a path of destruction
or a path of progress and growth?
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:And the paths are very clear to me.
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:And so that is a major concern.
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:I think that women.
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:You know, we are aware
of our surroundings.
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:We're aware of, you know, it's sort
of like, you know, when you have a
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:child, you child proof the home, right?
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:Well, you think of all of the
different things that your child
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:could get into that could harm them.
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:I'm really kind of taking that approach.
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:That's where I think we need more
women involved in politics because
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:we look at the world differently.
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:We experienced the world differently
and our voice and our experiences
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:need to be heard, especially now.
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:Carmelita (Cat) Tiu, Host: Yeah.
92
:It is just so important.
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:You know, it's fascinating because
what's coming up as you're sharing
94
:about women needing to be in politics,
I remember growing up how when I looked
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:at pictures of Congress, it, there
was never anyone that looked like me.
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:Very few women.
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:Maybe one woman of color, and it made it
so my idea of even my, like my bias, my
98
:default in my head sometimes is to think
of rooms full of Navy suit wearing men.
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:Tamie Wilson: Yeah.
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:Carmelita (Cat) Tiu, Host: And I,
as you were talking, it really made
101
:me think about how, How important it
is for us to change those biases by
102
:including more women so people can start
envisioning themselves in those spaces.
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:So our kids can start seeing that as
normal and not, uh, an anomaly because
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:my, I have to admit my brain still when
someone says, Oh, the president of this
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:country, like my brain assumes it's a man.
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:And you know, the only way we can
change that is by women getting involved
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:and changing those default images.
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:Tamie Wilson: I mean that what you're
saying is just that hits the nail
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:on the head because women make over
50 percent of the population here
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:in the US, but we're only 24 percent
in the Senate 26 in the house and
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:30 at state and local government.
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:But we make over 50%.
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:And I don't know where you or your
audiences on the side of abortion,
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:you know, it should not be a
political thing, in my opinion,
115
:it is a very personal thing.
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:But when a woman has a miscarriage as
I'm sure you know, a lot of times the
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:doctor will perform a DNC to clean out her
system to make sure there are no remnants
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:of the deceased fetus still in her body
that could cause disease or death or
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:prevent her from having future children.
120
:Well, we have these lawmakers that
consider that to be an abortion and
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:you know, for someone that has a
miscarriage that needs to have a DNC
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:to, you know, for her own health.
123
:You know, to protect her own health
and protect her ability to have more
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:children, some procedures are needed
and it should not be a political thing.
125
:It's just, it's so sad to me that
we're here with this issue, for so
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:many women, you know, and they're
going after IVF treatments as well.
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:So many people want to have children
and , that is their only avenue for
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:some people, how dare anyone take
that ability or right away from anyone.
129
:It just, it makes absolutely no sense.
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:But when you have, I'm going to say male
lawmakers in there that do not understand
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:the female anatomy or, you know, medicine,
they're making these political decisions
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:and it just really, it's not right.
133
:Carmelita (Cat) Tiu, Host: So what
would you say to someone that is,
134
:you know, feels passionately about
these issues but maybe has not ever
135
:considered going into politics?
136
:Or maybe, maybe they are considering
it, but they're tamping down
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:that urge or dismissing it.
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:Tamie Wilson: Let me tell you.
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:This is what the, this is the
mindset of what women go through.
140
:A lot of times they are mothers, so
they do not want to leave the child.
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:And then you have the double standard
of, you know, voters who won't vote for
142
:women because they have children at home.
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:I mean, there's, I learned, I thought
we were so far advanced when it comes to
144
:women in politics, but we really are not.
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:And that was probably the
biggest shocker to me.
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:I, I mean, I get so much criticism
for my looks, for my nails, you
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:know, I love wearing makeup.
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:And I will hear comments that,
Oh, Tammy, you're too pretty.
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:Or your lips are too bright.
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:Your eyebrows are too dark.
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:Your nails are too long.
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:Your heels are too high.
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:I mean, just so many stupid things.
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:But for someone that does
have an interest, just do it.
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:Just do it.
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:You will figure it out.
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:That is what I'm going to tell you.
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:A lot of women will say, well,
you know, I shouldn't do it.
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:I don't have the experience or I
need to do this, this, this, this,
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:and that first, or I need to, uh,
learn this, or I need to learn that.
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:No, you don't.
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:Just get involved.
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:You will.
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:Figure it out.
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:You will, you are a resourceful woman.
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:You will figure it out.
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:You will get the information
you need when you need it.
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:That is the difference I
feel between men and women.
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:We are used to having to fight for it.
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:You know, ambitious
women, you know how it is.
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:You know, we do, we have to work
harder and smarter than men.
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:That is just the bottom line,
especially if you're a woman of
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:color, I'm a biracial woman.
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:There's so many prejudices out there.
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:I'm short.
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:I have a high voice.
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:I look young.
178
:But you know, there's so many things
that people have a double standard with
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:women that they don't have with men.
180
:We have to work twice, three times as
hard to overcome all of those prejudices.
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:It's just, it's really interesting.
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:Yeah.
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:But it's worth it.
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:It is worth it.
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:And once people start listening to
you, once they get over the drama in
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:their own head, their own, you know,
obstacles and start listening to you,
187
:they will be your biggest supporters
and they will work hard for you.
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:And it is so awesome to
watch that evolution.
189
:I had a meeting with this gentleman
the other day, this man has helped run
190
:gubernatorial races, uh, senatorial
races and You know, he was so critical
191
:of me and he went from saying, Oh yeah,
well, well, good for you for trying.
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:. Yeah, but it was so funny
watching him, you know, go from
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:Oh, well, that's kind of cute.
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:You know, that's basically what
he was saying to me, but he went
195
:from that to, wow, I'm so excited.
196
:I got to meet our next Congresswoman.
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:And I'm like, That is right.
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:That's it right there.
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:Mm.
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:You know, half an hour or
so, but I got him there.
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:It's funny to watch that with people.
202
:Carmelita (Cat) Tiu, Host: I can just
imagine that feeling, how you must have
203
:felt seeing that evolution from skeptic
to open minded to a believer, essentially.
204
:And that's, that's really, I think,
What politics is about, right?
205
:not just speaking to the people
that automatically resonate with
206
:you, but also the people that might
be a little hesitant or unsure and
207
:reassuring them and working with them
to get them to that place of belief.
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:Tamie Wilson: And that goes
back to the compassion.
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:It is all about listening to people.
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:People want to be heard.
211
:They don't want to be patronized.
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:They want to be heard and they
want someone to advocate for them.
213
:And that is my specialty.
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:I love helping people.
215
:That is just, that is what I
was created to do, you know?
216
:And, and I have the big picture
type of mindset that I can just see
217
:the bigger picture and I can see,
well, we really need to do this and
218
:this and that to get that result.
219
:You know, I think a lot of times
with politics, they just hit the
220
:surface, which doesn't do anything.
221
:And that's really what upsets
people and they get no change.
222
:And that's why they feel so aggravated,
you know, with our government,
223
:because they're not seeing the
change that they really want to see.
224
:Well, that's because they don't address
the core issue of what really needs
225
:to be done to get that transformation.
226
:And as a coach, you know
what I'm talking about?
227
:If you don't get the core issue,
if you don't hit the heart of the
228
:matter, nothing is going to change.
229
:Carmelita (Cat) Tiu, Host: I want to
jump back to something you mentioned
230
:earlier about how you women in politics
or any sort of leadership space are
231
:often judged unfairly, that we do have
to work twice as hard and, uh, you,
232
:you essentially in signing up to be
a leader, you may be signing up for
233
:a heightened level of scrutiny and
judgment, which can feel scary to people.
234
:And, you know, maybe even turn
some women off because they
235
:don't want to feel that way.
236
:Or they might be perfectionists and it
leads to sort of this sense of anxiety.
237
:Like I can't fail and whatnot.
238
:And I, I'm curious, like, what are your,
uh, What mental blocks did you have to
239
:overcome and how did you overcome them
or how do you, because it might be a
240
:practice given that you are constantly
having to show up and try hard and,
241
:work to dismantle some of these biases
and stereotypes or snap judgments that
242
:people might have in these spaces.
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:Tamie Wilson: Yeah.
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:So I can be very much a perfectionist.
245
:I like to be liked by people.
246
:I, I'm not going to say it's
hurtful to get the criticism.
247
:It's more disappointing.
248
:I just hate that some people, this
is the biggest thing I had to learn.
249
:I had to learn that you
cannot win over everyone.
250
:Some people just want
to be mean and hateful.
251
:It doesn't matter what you say.
252
:It doesn't matter how much sense
you make it doesn't matter what
253
:facts you bring to the table.
254
:Some people just want to be
mean and hateful and those
255
:people I'm just like, okay.
256
:You know, and just keep on, keep on
trucking, you know, but some people,
257
:so I, I, we kind of test people.
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:So when I get those nasty messages,
I'll just, if I feel like it, I
259
:do my own personal check to say,
okay, do I want to engage or not?
260
:You know, and if I, sometimes I want
to, sometimes it's for my own humor.
261
:Sometimes it's, you know, to make a
point or, or just to connect, you know?
262
:So it just depends on what mood I'm in.
263
:And so I will, kind of test
the waters, you know, okay.
264
:Am I dealing with a sane person here?
265
:Are they just angry?
266
:Do they just need to be heard?
267
:You just kind of feel people out.
268
:And so if I can, or if I'm up to it,
I will engage and, and sometimes, you
269
:know, we can win those people over, but
I had to get used to one, not checking
270
:all of the messages, not reading them,
especially for my own, mental wellness.
271
:I just, I get called a communist,
a commie, a Marxist, a devil
272
:worshiper, a baby killer.
273
:I mean, just terrible, terrible things.
274
:And I'm just like, wow, what is that
person's life like for them to be
275
:so evil like that, you know, and.
276
:Sometimes responding to them with
compassion can work, but other
277
:times it's just like, no, they have
no interest in being kind or civil
278
:and they just want to be mean, you
know, so sometimes I'm mean back.
279
:Carmelita (Cat) Tiu, Host: So what
I'm getting from that is to set
280
:boundaries like recognize that you're
not going to win everyone over.
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:Another thing
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:Tamie Wilson: that was a hard one for me.
283
:So being the perfectionist and I love
psychology and I love helping people.
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:I've always been the person that
befriended all the bullies because
285
:I knew that they were the people
that need love the most, you know?
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:And so But yeah, I had, I had to learn to
just shut it down and just move on and.
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:That that's hard because you know,
I want everyone to be happy and
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:not everyone wants to be happy.
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:Carmelita (Cat) Tiu, Host:
Yeah, you know, yeah Yeah,
290
:Tamie Wilson: you can only control
what you can control right?
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:Carmelita (Cat) Tiu, Host: Right , right
so a large degree of perhaps acceptance,
292
:you know of the situation at hand
and Another thing that that came up
293
:was the idea of when to engage and
how to engage and I just had a guest
294
:on recently and she was talking about
experiencing antisemitism and her
295
:initial reaction was to be Kind of
aggressive or very, you know, passionate
296
:about responding to people that would
throw these hateful things her way.
297
:Uh, and then realizing that, yes, yes.
298
:And sometimes when people are observing,
they may not have the whole context.
299
:So if they only get the snippet of you
being Louder, maybe more, uh, aggressive
300
:or whatnot than you want to be.
301
:That becomes the story in their head
about you you know, they may not
302
:take the time to see the big picture.
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:Tamie Wilson: That is so true.
304
:And so for me running against Jim Jordan.
305
:So when I first started running, I was
running against another congressman,
306
:but then when they redrew the maps,
with the redistricting, they cut
307
:me into Jim Jordan's district.
308
:And I was like, Oh my gosh,
okay, let's go, you know?
309
:And I know that being a woman and
running against him and my feeling
310
:and what I've seen with the district
that, People want a strong fighter.
311
:They want someone that's going to, you
know, scream at the government for them.
312
:I mean, give it to them, you know?
313
:And so I had been presenting myself to
be this really strong, you know, person.
314
:But it was so interesting I had
gone to this memorial, one of our
315
:treasurers in one of the counties
he had, he had passed away.
316
:And so I was at the memorial for him
and I was speaking to the crowd and
317
:I addressed the family and I said,
I am just so sorry for your loss.
318
:I mean, it can even choke me up now.
319
:And, uh, After the, after I sat
down, the gentleman next to me
320
:goes, wow, you're really empathetic.
321
:And I was like, oh my God, what am
I presenting to people, you know?
322
:And, oh my gosh, that was, that was
something to have that realization.
323
:Wow.
324
:It was wild.
325
:Yeah.
326
:Carmelita (Cat) Tiu, Host: Well, hearing
you speak about the, the work that goes
327
:into it, the things that you, uh, have to
endure, uh, running and also the reward,
328
:you know, I can see how you light up.
329
:And yeah, you can tell that, yeah.
330
:This has truly become
part of your life's work.
331
:So I'm honored to share space with you.
332
:And I'd love to know, is there one
quote or affirmation or a thought that
333
:you'd like to leave with the listeners?
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:Tamie Wilson: You
335
:know, my favorite quotes are,
as you think, so shall you be.
336
:I was really raised with the
thought that you can do and be
337
:anything that you set your mind to.
338
:Obviously that's not really true.
339
:I mean, if you went to be an NFL star, but
you can't play football, it's not going
340
:to happen, you know, but you might coach.
341
:You know, so I mean, what I've
really been trying to do is to
342
:inspire women to take their sphere
of influence to the next level.
343
:Don't just think about just helping.
344
:Being a volunteer at Red Cross
or, you know, the American
345
:Cancer Society or something.
346
:Don't just work your job and
just be the manager or the,
347
:you know, a CEO or something.
348
:Take those skills, your sphere
of influence, your experience,
349
:your, your need or desire to make
the world a better place, To the
350
:next level and get into politics.
351
:It is so needed.
352
:We need more women involved.
353
:Do not let anything stop you.
354
:Just do it.
355
:Go for it.
356
:That is like my main
thing is just go for it.
357
:I love how approachable
and real Tammy was.
358
:It's kind of fun to think this is
this person that's so relatable and I
359
:can have this conversation with them.
360
:And she's running for Congress.
361
:Uh, it just kind of blows
my mind a little bit.
362
:I so appreciated this conversation.
363
:Here are my top five takeaways.
364
:Number one.
365
:Recognize the importance
of women's voices.
366
:Women bring unique
perspectives into politics.
367
:And in many ways we experience
the world differently than men.
368
:It's important for us to speak about
our experiences and the insights they've
369
:given us to help inform meaningful change.
370
:Number two.
371
:Major life and world events, whether
it's the pandemic, racial tensions,
372
:inequities, or personal challenges.
373
:Can ignite a passion for change.
374
:Allow yourself to pivot
and make inspired moves.
375
:Listen to your gut and don't
be afraid to take action.
376
:Number three.
377
:You can't win over everyone.
378
:Criticism and negative feedback is
inevitable and there may be some
379
:people that won't support you no
matter what you say or do just
380
:stay true to your values and goals.
381
:And don't let this dissuade you
from continuing on your path.
382
:Number four, use empathy in leadership.
383
:Strong advocacy has to be paired
with empathy and compassion.
384
:People need to feel heard.
385
:Actively listening and showing
concern and openness will help you
386
:genuinely advocate for others needs.
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:And number five step up.
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:If you feel called to lead or serve,
use the skills and passions you have
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:and take them to the next level,
by getting involved in politics.
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:Your skills and experiences are
valuable and women's voices are needed
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:to help make the world a better place.
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:To learn more about Tammy and her
campaign visit www dot Tammy Wilson.
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:Dot com that's spelled.
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:T a M I E.
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:wilson.com.
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:Carmelita (Cat) Tiu, Host:
Thanks for listening.
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:If you like what you heard, tell a
friend, follow the podcast and leave
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:a review if you haven't done so yet.
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:if you're on Instagram,
follow @knowberaisethem, and
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:visit knowberaisethem.Com.
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:And lastly, as you may have heard from
the intro, I am a certified coach so
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:check out carmelitatiu.com to set up a
30 minute quick mindset reset, you can
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:see what it's like to work with a coach.
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:And as always here's to strong women.
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:May we know them, may we be them?
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:And may we raise them.