In Episode 2 of For Forsyth, we talk with a candidate, hear from a Forsyth County resident, and introduce a new recurring segment focused on helping us understand how government actually works.

Dan Naber sits down with Ashley Bell, Democratic candidate for North Carolina’s 10th Congressional District. Their conversation covers affordability, healthcare, education, government accountability, gerrymandering, congressional war powers, and the issues Bell says she would prioritize if elected. You can learn more about Ashley Bell at https://ab4nc.com.

Then Jeremiah talks with Forsyth County resident Suzette Leal about what she is seeing closer to home, including rising grocery prices, challenges facing local schools, support for teachers, jobs and opportunities, activities for young people, and what she hopes Forsyth County will look like in the years ahead.

And finally, meet Ron Jones, the Civics Guy.

Ron begins with a simple question: How can we hold government accountable if we don’t understand how it works?

In his first "The Civics Guy" segment, Ron looks at what Americans know about the structure of government, why government can be difficult to understand, and why civic knowledge matters when we make decisions about our communities and our country.

IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Welcome to For Forsyth
00:52 What’s coming up in Episode 2
01:14 Dan Naber interviews Ashley Bell
01:47 Who is Ashley Bell?
03:05 What Bell is hearing across NC-10
04:25 Affordability and the cost of living
05:26 Congress, the economy, and healthcare
07:23 Government accountability and corruption
11:39 Healthcare and the Affordable Care Act
12:30 Public education and higher education
15:19 The Epstein files and transparency
17:12 Gerrymandering
18:32 Iran and congressional war powers
19:03 Representation in NC-10
23:07 Winston-Salem’s International Black Theatre Festival
24:14 What Bell says she would fight for in Congress
25:47 Bell’s closing remarks
28:24 Jeremiah interviews Forsyth County resident Suzette Leal
30:03 Rising prices and groceries
30:40 Forsyth County public schools
31:31 Jobs and opportunities
31:55 Activities and opportunities for young people
33:07 What should Forsyth County look like in five years?
34:47 Meet Ron Jones, the Civics Guy
35:45 How much do Americans know about civics?
38:12 What do we mean when we talk about “the government”?
39:13 How government touches everyday life
41:52 Why understanding government matters
42:40 What to expect from the Civics Guy
45:00 Closing

For Forsyth is a podcast of the people, by the people, and for the people of Forsyth County, North Carolina. We hear from local residents, people asking for our vote, and the Civics Guy so we can make choices based on what we know, not what we think we know.

Follow For Forsyth so you don’t miss the next episode.

For more about this podcast, visit our website at https://forforsyth.org

Thanks, DeBeen ! 💜☕

We'd like to offer a special thanks to the folks at DeBeen Espresso in Winston-Salem for allowing us to conduct our interview in their café. Learn more about DeBeen Espresso (High Point and Winston-Salem) on their website: https://debeenespresso.com/.

Meet the people behind For Forsyth, a new podcast created by Forsyth County residents who believe local voices matter.

In this introductory episode, Laura Zielke, Dan Naber, Jeremiah Leal, and Ron Jones share a little about themselves, why they’re getting involved, and what each will bring to the show. You’ll hear about plans for conversations with candidates, interviews with people across our community, plain-language civics explainers, and discussions about the issues affecting everyday life in Forsyth County.

For Forsyth is about getting beyond labels, learning how our government works, listening to our neighbors, and focusing on the values we share. Our goal is simple: to help all of us make informed choices based on what we know—not what we think we know.

For Forsyth is a new podcast about life in Forsyth County: the schools, the roads, the hospitals, the cost of living, and the choices in front of us.

This short trailer introduces the show.

The idea is simple. Most of what we hear about politics comes from far away, and it usually comes with a fight attached. Very little of it is about home. We wanted a place where neighbors talk about the county we actually live in, where candidates answer real questions in their own words, and where you can find out what's on your ballot before you vote.

Every episode also features a short segment with The Civics Guy™ who will remind us how local government actually works, and how a decision made in a county meeting impacts our neighborhoods.

New episodes will be released at least twice a month. Follow the show so you don't miss out!