She's Kind of a Big Deal: Leaving The World Better Than We Found It with Secretary Deb Haaland

Could you imagine that a bakery job at 15 would shape the way someone leads a nation? In this episode, we sit down with Secretary Deb Haaland, former Secretary of the Interior and now candidate for governor of New Mexico. Deb shares how her early lessons in hard work and humility shaped her belief that leadership begins with empathy and discipline, not power. We talk about how running became her way to think and heal, why "Be Fierce" isn't just a campaign slogan, and how motherhood has grounded her leadership in compassion and courage. We also discuss the connection between public service and personal values, and what it really takes to build a future where families and the planet can thrive together. Deb Haaland is the 54th Secretary of the Interior, a proud member of Laguna Pueblo, and she is now running for governor of New Mexico. She's dedicated to protecting public lands, empowering communities, and ensuring future generations inherit a world worth caring for. We Discuss: (00:01): Politics, Parenting, and Pop Culture (15:24): Politics with Purpose: Meet Secretary Deb Haaland (17:00): From Bakery to Ballots (20:21): How Running Became Her Form of Meditation (22:56): When Women Win, Everyone Benefits (26:56): What "Be Fierce" Really Means (30:44): Why Empathy Is Her Strongest Leadership Tool (36:33): How We Protect the Land We Love (and Why It Matters) (44:37): The Power of Kitchen Table Politics (52:30): How to Teach the Next Generation to Care for the Planet Learn more about: Tanya Nathan is a political campaign and communications strategist with over a decade of experience in progressive campaigns and advocacy. Currently a Principal at a nationally-based grasstops consulting firm, she's a Denver native living with her daughter, husband, and their rescue pets. Her hobbies include crosswords, mezcal tasting, and trying to sleuth out who's going to be on Love is Blind Denver. Sarah Andrews is a political strategist living in rural Colorado with her husband and two young kids. When she's not managing campaigns or chasing toddlers, she's passionate about women's rights, childcare policy, and creating space for honest political conversations that don't end in shouting matches. Website: momarchypodcast.com Substack: https://substack.com/@momarchy Instagram: @themomarchypodcast TikTok: @momarchypodcast Email: momarchypodcast@gmail.com Find more from Secretary Deb Haaland: Instagram: @secdebhaaland X: @SecDebHaaland Facebook: @SecretaryDebHaaland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.