Why Not Me? 2028
What if a regular person ran for President?
Why Not Me? is a smart, thoughtful, sometimes funny podcast about one woman’s journey to ask that question — out loud. Shana is not a celebrity, not a billionaire, and not backed by a political machine. She’s a former nonprofit worker and PTA fundraiser, and current higher ed employee who’s spent her life working, parenting, and trying to make things better from the ground up.
In each episode, she explores what it would actually take for someone like her to run for the highest office in the land — from policy ideas to campaign hurdles, from civic curiosity to systemic barriers. Along the way, she asks bigger questions about leadership, representation, and what democracy really means in 21st-century America.
This isn’t a show about bashing politicians or pushing an agenda. It’s about making space for new voices, honest conversations, and people who’ve never seen themselves in power. If you've ever looked at a ballot and thought, “Seriously? These are my choices?” — this podcast is for you.
Why Not Me? 2028
So, What Does It Take to Run for President?
Episode Summary
You don’t need a law degree, a million Instagram followers, or a private jet to run for president. Legally, the bar is low. But in practice? That’s a different story.
In this episode, I unpack the real barriers to running for the highest office in the land — from fundraising and ballot access to party politics and media gatekeeping. It’s part behind-the-scenes explainer, part reality check, and part rallying cry for everyday people to imagine what might be possible if we rebuilt the system with us in mind.
In This Episode, I Talk About:
- What the Constitution actually requires (spoiler: it’s not much)
- The real costs of running — financially and emotionally
- What it takes to build a campaign team from scratch
- Fundraising fatigue and how much time candidates spend just asking for money
- Ballot access laws (like the 1M+ signatures you’d need to go nationwide)
- How political parties and media gatekeeping filter out “unserious” candidates
- Why regular people get left behind — and how that affects policy and democracy
Resources & Links:
Ballot Access & Requirements
- Ballot Access for Presidential Candidates – Ballotpedia
Campaign Costs & Fundraising Examples
- OpenSecrets – 2020 Election Costs
- RFK Jr. Ballot Access Costs – NY Post
Listener Prompt:
If you didn’t have to raise millions — or already be famous — would you ever consider running for something?
What would make it feel possible? What’s keeping you — or someone you know — out?
Support the Show:
If this episode gave you something to think about, share it with someone.
Leave a rating. Send a message. Start a conversation.
Because democracy isn’t just for the powerful — it’s for all of us.
Use this link to send us a text, or email us at shana@whynotme2028.com
Graphics and editing by Rory Lawson
Music by Universfield from Pixabay