Sharon McMahon

Sharon McMahon is an American podcast host, author, Instagram influencer, and law and government teacher.

Nicknamed "America's Government Teacher," McMahon produces and hosts civics and history-focused content on her podcast, Instagram and other platforms[1][2][3] with a particular focus on combating misinformation, from both sides of the aisle, and providing nonpartisan explanations on the application of constitutional law to contemporary American politics.[4]

A longtime high school law and government teacher, McMahon began publishing politics-oriented content to her Instagram in September 2020, in response to what she saw as rising misinformation in her own social media feeds amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 election cycle.[5][6] Topics covered by McMahon included the responsibilities of the electoral college, principles of democracy, the functions and structure of US government, and untold stores of general American history. Soon after McMahon launched, Government for Grownups, a workshop series about US history and government.

In December 2020, McMahon launched her first giving campaign with the goal to raise $1000 for a family in need. Instead, McMahon crowdfunded more than $125,000. In January 2021, McMahon gained media attention for organizing a letter-writing campaign to thank U.S. Capitol custodians cleaning up after the January 6th insurrection.[7][8]

Book

McMahon is writing a book which will be released September 2024.

Podcast

In July 2021, McMahon started hosting Here's Where It Get's Interesting, which quickly ranked in the top 1% of all podcasts with 1.2 million monthly downloads. The 300+ episodes are a mix of interviews with notable Americans and DocuSeries shedding light on American history, like Prohibition, Civil Rights, and World War Two. Podcast guests have included Sen. Mitt Romney,[9] actor George Takei,[10] actor Rainn Wilson,[11] author Adam Grant,[12] Mark Rober,[13] Tabitha Brown,[14] Jodi Benson,[15] Heather Cox Richardson,[16] Maria Bamford,[17] and documentarians Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein.[18] In September 2023, McMahon's podcast was rated to have center bias with high rates of reliability by Ad Fontes Media,[19] a watchdog organization known for its Media Bias interpreting.

Philanthropic activity

McMahon's motto "Pennies into miracles" has resulted in over US$7.4 million being raised for teachers grants,[20] medical debt payments,[21] natural disaster relief[22] and families in need. In 2022, Governerds, what McMahon's following nicknamed themselves, were able to raise US$565,000 for RIP Medical Debt who was able to forgive $147,000,000 of medical debt for individuals and families in the USA.[23]

According to the Red Cross, over 8,300 have joined the Governerd blood donation team, and together have impacted 180,000 lives. They are the #7 ranked team in the country.

Awards

In 2022, she was recognized as Communicator of the Year by PRWeek and nominated as Best Social Creator at the Webby Awards.[1][24] In 2023, Here's Where It Get's Interesting, the podcast, won a Webby Award for Best Writing and People's Voice.[25]

McMahon was a recipient of Twin Cities Business 100 in 2023.[26]

Media appearances

McMahon has appeared on The Daily Show and as a panelist for the George W. Bush Presidential Center's "Engage at the Bush Center" series.[2] In 2021, McMahon appeared on CNN and Good Morning America. She regularly is on local news and radio networks across the United States, like Minnesota Public Radio, Maine Public Radio and KSL, advocating for civil engagement and discourse while breaking down constitutional topics.[27][28][29]

In June 2021, Wired wrote about McMahon's ability to help people break out of echo-chambers and information silos on social media.[30]

Other activity

Starts with Us

McMahon is a founding partner[31] of "Starts with Us", an organization overcoming extreme division. Starts With Us is "a movement to empower millions of Americans who are tired of the culture of contempt and energized to foster critical thinking and constructive communication across individual's lines of difference."

Progress Network

McMahon is a member of the Progress Network.[32]

References
  1. "'America's Government Teacher' Sharon McMahon honored as Communicator of the Year". PRWeek. March 17, 2022. Archived from the original on March 17, 2022.
  2. "Event: Freedom Matters with David Rubenstein and Sharon McMahon". George W. Bush Presidential Center. March 20, 2023. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023.
  3. "Sharon McMachon". The Progress Network. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  4. Erdahl, Kent (January 8, 2021). "Former MN Teacher Going Viral for Combating Political Misinformation on Instagram". KARE. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  5. Godfrey, Elaine (June 5, 2022). "Sharon McMahon Has No Use for Rage-Baiting". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on June 5, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  6. Wurzer, Cathy (December 14, 2021). "Civics Lessons for Adults—on Instagram? Sharon Says So". MPR News. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  7. Vargas, Theresa (January 16, 2021). "People Are Sending Thank You Cards to the Capitol's Cleaning Crew. They Deserve Our Gratitude. And More". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  8. Moeller, Amy (January 10, 2021). "There's a Campaign to Send Thank You Notes to the Custodial Staff That Cleaned the Capitol After the Riots". Washingtonian. Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  9. Sharon McMahon (June 6, 2022). "The Importance of Preserving Democracy with Senator Mitt Romney". www.sharonmcmahon.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022.
  10. Sharon McMahon (October 24, 2022). "Resilience: An Interview with George Takei Pt. 1". www.sharonmcmahon.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023.
  11. "Interview with Rainn Wilson by Sharon McMahon". www.sharonmcmahon.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  12. "Interview with Adam Grant by Sharon McMahon". www.sharonmcmahon.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  13. "Interview with Mark Rober by Sharon McMahon". www.sharonmcmahon.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  14. "Interview with Tabitha Brown by Sharon McMahon". www.sharonmcmahon.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  15. "Interview with Jodi Benson by Sharon McMahon". www.sharonmcmahon.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  16. "How the Future Shapes Our National History with Heather Cox Richardson". www.sharonmcmahon.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  17. "Interview with Maria Bamford by Sharon McMahon". www.sharonmcmahon.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  18. Sharon McMahon (September 16, 2022). "The U.S. and the Holocaust with Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein". www.sharonmcmahon.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022.
  19. Fox-Ramirez, Erin (2023-09-19). "Explore 10 Podcasts Making Their Debut on the September Static Media Bias Chart". Ad Fontes Media. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  20. "'Governerds' Community Raises Over $1 Million For Teachers". Good Good Good. 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  21. "'Governerds' Community Raises Over $1 Million For Teachers". Good Good Good. 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  22. "Sharon McMahon's 'Governerds' Raise Millions to Help Others". Good Good Good. 2022-03-16. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  23. "'Governerds' Community Raises Over $1 Million For Teachers". Good Good Good. 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  24. "Sharon Says So". The Webby Awards. 2022.
  25. "NEW Webby Gallery + Index". NEW Webby Gallery + Index. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  26. "Sharon McMahon | TCB 100". Twin Cities Business. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  27. "Civics lessons for adults — on Instagram? Sharon Says So". MPR News. 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  28. Madsen, Candice; July 6, KSL-TV | Posted-; P.m, 2022 at 5:22. "Woman behind 'Sharon Says So' podcast explains how we stop 'screaming at each other'". www.ksl.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  29. "Former teacher combats political misinformation with nonpartisan facts about democracy". Maine Public. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  30. Fuchs, Matt. "How Some Americans Are Breaking Out of Political Echo Chambers". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  31. "Movement Partners". Starts With Us. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  32. "Sharon McMahon - Official Member of The Progress Network". The Progress Network. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
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