Podcast

Activists Make History with Peggy Nash:
A Perspectives Journal Podcast Series

A new podcast series from Perspectives: A Canadian Journal of Political Economy and Social Democracy called Activists Make History demystifies Canadian democracy for political outsiders, demonstrating how we can overcome barriers facing underrepresented groups in Canadian politics. Hosted by Peggy Nash, former Member of Parliament and member of the Broadbent Institute’s Board of Directors, Activists Make History tells the stories of the political underdogs running for political office and how those from the outside can win across Canada.

How do we take the struggles of political outsiders into the halls of power? Nash interviews those on the ground, coming up from the grassroots who aren’t afraid to start from scratch, and take on leadership roles. In Nash’s introduction to the Activists Make History podcast:

“I talk to activists, experts, political leaders, and those like me who've been there and done that to show you can make real progressive change in how Canadian democracy functions.”

This limited series is presented through Perspectives: A Canadian Journal of Political Economy and Social Democracy, and complements Peggy Nash’s 2023 book Women Winning Office: An Activist’s Guide to Getting Elected from Between the Lines. This series is made possible with the support of Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union. Episodes will be shared biweekly on all major podcast platforms via the Perspectives Journal Podcast feed.

Activists Make History

Books

Women Winning Office: An Activist’s Guide to Getting Elected

When Peggy Nash first decided to run for elected office, she had no idea where to start, who to contact, or what the rules were. For those who are underrepresented in political life, politics can seem like a secret society designed to shut them out.

Women Winning Office is a practical handbook for activist women on how to open doors and take their place in the political process. Find out how to build a team, get nominated, inspire volunteers, and canvass voters. Nash draws on her experience in five federal campaigns, as well as the stories of many inspiring Canadian women who have run for office at all levels of government. Some succeeded; some did not. Some faced difficult and painful experiences. Every one of them would do it again.

To make real progressive change, we need to change not only who gets elected in Canada, but how our democracy functions. If you want to find out how to take your desire for a better world into elected office, this book is for you.

“…the book is a master class in how to conduct a campaign, from recruiting volunteers and raising money to getting out the vote, handling the media, and participating in debates.”

–Brooke Jeffrey, Literary Review of Canada

“This book is a highly accessible comment on women’s leadership, power, and social change in a society fraught with inequalities. Nash cleverly balances political critique with personal optimism for all groups of women in Canada.”

– Dr. Pamela Sugiman, dean of the Faculty of Arts, Toronto Metropolitan University

“Women Winning Office is a tremendous resource that all women with an interest in politics should check out, no matter your background or level of experience. Whether you’re interested in running or supporting someone who wants to run, it’s a must-read. I only wish that when my political interest was sparked decades ago, I’d had this book at my fingertips.”

– Paulette Senior, CEO and president, Canadian Women’s Foundation

Articles and Op-Eds

Selected Media