How One Citizen Got Congress to Work Together on Climate Change — Jay Butera and Sam Daley-HarrisUncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us • Season 2025, Episode 44
Nov 5, 2025 • 21m
What does it really take to make your voice heard in Congress?
In this episode, Host Julie Rose talks with Sam Daley-Harris, founder of RESULTS and Civic Courage, and Jay Butera, the citizen advocate who helped create the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in Congress.
Jay shares how he spent three years hearing “no” before finally convincing one Republican member of Congress to say “yes” to working across the aisle on climate change. Sam explains how transformational advocacy—showing up, building trust, and listening deeply—can turn ordinary citizens into powerful changemakers.
Sam’s book, Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen's Guide to Transformational Advocacy - https://reclaimingourdemocracy.com/
Get in touch with Sam – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCQuqj-4O2eh4Sfy_E-dfVntbPlqg1A4T4oQ8E2J0nuZbD-w/viewform
Climate Solutions Caucus - https://climatesolutionscaucus-garbarino.house.gov/
Top of Mind episode on what to do if you’re feeling unheard by Congress - https://www.byuradio.org/feeling-unheard-by-congress-heres-what-you-need-to-know
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
00:38 Meet Sam Daley-Harris and Jay Butera
01:14 The Birth of the Climate Solutions Caucus
02:07 Challenges and Breakthroughs in Advocacy
05:33 Building Relationships in Congress
08:09 The Turning Point: Congressman Curbelo's Involvement
12:06 Impact and Reflections on Advocacy
17:49 Final Thoughts and Encouragement