What does it mean to meet the moment when you’re outnumbered?In this episode of Great Ships, Taylor sits down with South Carolina State Representative Heather Bauer — the only Democrat to flip a State House seat in 2022 — for a candid conversation about opposition politics, persistence, and the long game of building power in a supermajority state.Heather reflects on her journey from a working-class childhood shaped by public support to losing early races, running again, and ultimately winning. She offers an inside look at the realities of serving in the minority: navigating pressure within the legislature, pushing her own party to show more fight, and using every available tool to slow harmful legislation and move good ideas forward.Together, they explore why competing everywhere matters — even in districts where victory isn’t guaranteed — how public engagement strengthens elected leaders’ ability to act, and what initiatives like The Comeback are trying to shift across South Carolina’s political landscape.At its core, this conversation is about courage: the courage to run, to dissent, to stay present, and to believe that democracy works best when more people step forward to participate.

What does it take to win elections and rebuild durable political power in a state where Democrats have been locked out for decades?

In this episode of Great Ships, Taylor Culliver sits down with Democratic strategist and organizer Brady Quirk-Garvan for a wide-ranging conversation about momentum, discipline, and what it will take for Democrats to compete and win again in South Carolina.

Brady brings decades of experience from the trenches of South Carolina politics, including his time as Chair of the Charleston County Democratic Party, where Democrats flipped six seats and built lasting local infrastructure. Together, Taylor and Brady dig into how Democrats lost ground, why chasing “shiny object” races has weakened the party, and how rebuilding electoral muscle starts with local wins, honest strategy, and sustained investment.

This conversation is about power — how it’s built, how it’s lost, and how it can be reclaimed. It’s also a call to action: to run for office, to invest locally, to do the next scary thing, and to understand that momentum gets built cycle by cycle.

This episode explores:

• Why momentum is the single most important force in electoral politics

• How Democrats rebuild power by focusing on local and down-ballot races

• The importance of discipline, realism, and long-term strategy

• Why breaking the supermajority matters

• How money, messaging, and field work actually move votes

• The role of county parties, the state party, and outside infrastructure

• What keeps organizers and strategists showing up in exhausting times

If you’re wondering how Democrats come back from stagnation and what you can do to help rebuild power where you live — this conversation is for you.

What does it actually take to change policy — and keep showing up when the wins are slow?

In this episode of Great Ships, I sit down with Phil Ford, founding partner of the Ford & Ford Group and one of South Carolina’s most respected voices as a lobbyist inside the State House, to take stock of where we are — and where we’re headed.

As we close out 2025, Phil helps us make sense of what laws passed, what stalled, who benefited, and why. We talk honestly about the growing divisiveness at the State House, the role of pressure and persistence in shaping outcomes, and what it will take to break the supermajority and build more Democratic power as we head into 2026.

We also dig into Phil’s personal story — how he found his way into this work, what sustains him through the slog, and why he believes showing up consistently still matters, even when progress feels painfully slow.

This conversation explores:

• What it actually takes to influence legislation in South Carolina

• How inside strategy and public pressure work together to move power

• Why competing everywhere — even in tough districts — changes the political landscape

• What breaking the supermajority would mean in practice

• How everyday people can find their place in the fight heading into 2026

If you care about dignity, democracy, and meeting people’s basic needs — and want a clear-eyed look at the work required to get there — this episode is for you.

What does it actually take to run — and win — a local race?

In the very first episode of Great Ships, I sit down with Tina Belge, newly elected Greenville City Council member, and Breanna Spaulding, campaign strategist and political consultant, to pull back the curtain on how local power is built from the ground up.

We talk candidly about what it means to run a real race, why being on the ballot matters even when the odds feel stacked, and how Tina’s campaign stayed focused on the issues that shape everyday life — housing affordability, growth, transit, and childcare — in the middle of a hyper-nationalized political moment.

This conversation explores:

• Why local elections matter more than ever

• How candidates can build trust and turnout where they live

• The role of strategy, data, and belief in winning local races

• What Democrats and organizers can learn as we look toward 2026

If you care about your community, believe politics should improve people’s daily lives, or are wondering whether stepping into the arena is worth it — this episode is for you.

Welcome to Great Ships with Taylor Culliver. I’m Taylor, and this is the trailer for my new podcast.I created this show because South Carolina is full of people navigating the currents of politics, power, and possibility with courage and hope — reminding us that we all have a role to play in shaping our future through the relationships we build, the choices we make, and the actions we take.Each episode, I’ll be in conversation with candidates, organizers, and community leaders who are charting a new direction for our state. We’ll talk strategy, vision, lessons learned, and what it really takes to build political power rooted in dignity, love, and a belief in what’s possible.My hope is that these conversations inspire you to recognize your own agency — to speak up, get involved, and help shape a South Carolina where everyone can live a decent, dignified life.New episodes are coming soon. You can subscribe on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.