Policy doesn’t move because of one meeting or a flashy stat—it moves when people align around a mission, build trust over time, and show up with care and consistency. We sit down with government affairs pros Anthony Kukura (Boundless), Casey Davison (Roberti Global), and Kelly Keyes (Kallner & Associates) to lift the curtain on what truly works on Capitol Hill and in statehouses.

We explore why alignment across partners is the first step to meaningful wins, how to root relationships in trust instead of transactions, and Casey’s “four Cs” framework—care, consistency, candidness, collaboration. You’ll hear how federal policy like Medicaid sets the rules of the road while states control implementation, and why smart advocates work both levels to turn broad mandates into local impact.

The team shares tactics to localize data and elevate lived experience—bringing self-advocates and families into the room, leaving a sharp one-pager behind, and following up with clarity. (hint: handwritten notes!)

We get real about administration changes and election cycles, with practical contingency planning and bipartisan relationship building to stay effective when power flips. We also tackle misconceptions on both sides: nonprofits fearing the process is “too big,” and policymakers seeing nonprofits as charity rather than essential infrastructure. This episode also included two mission moments to spotlight how inclusive networking reshapes opportunity.

If you’re a nonprofit leader or advocate looking to make your next meeting count, this conversation gives you a clear playbook—what to do, what to avoid, and how to persist with purpose. Enjoy the episode, then subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a quick review to help more mission-driven teams find it.

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