Plus, seriously useful tips about having tough conversations about politics.
In a world where misinformation can spread faster than facts, Sharon McMahon emerged as a beacon of clarity. Once a government and history teacher, she has transformed her passion for education into a massive online community, engaging her millions of followers with non-partisan explainer videos that break down the intricacies of the U.S. government — perfect for anyone who’s a little rusty on that subject (don’t be embarrassed!). We caught up with the educational icon to discuss her growing social empire; her new book The Small and the Mighty; her mission to educate, empower, and inform; and bridging the gap on bipartisan issues.
Katie Couric Media: Sharon, you’ve built up quite a social empire, but for people who might not be familiar, tell us a little about yourself.
Sharon McMahon: I am a longtime government, law, and history teacher, and in 2020, I started noticing quite a few issues on the internet. Maybe you did, too…People were saying things that were demonstrably false, like, “The electoral college is a university you can graduate from.” I started making some non-partisan explainer videos and answering questions about how government works and posting them online, and the videos took off.
You’ve made it your mission to help people better understand how our government (and our society as a whole) works — covering everything from the electoral college, Supreme Court cases, mask mandates, and so much in a non-partisan, factual way. What was the aha moment for you that made you realize this is what you needed to be doing?
When the demand for an online workshop about how Congress works outpaced the capacity for Zoom to handle it. I realized there were actually many Americans who wanted to know more and who wanted to make educated decisions, but it’s difficult to make an educated decision with no education on a topic.
Your new book, The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement, is out now. What inspired you to write it?
So much of our history is dominated by the bold-faced names in the textbooks, the titans of industry, the presidents, and the people who were “first” at things. And those are all wonderful things to learn about. But our history is also filled with thousands of stories that lie just outside the names in lights, stories that have changed America, stories that have been intentionally excluded or forgotten about. And it’s these stories that I have long suspected represented the best of us. The ordinary people who just kept doing the next needed thing. The people who stopped moving only their mouths and started moving their feet instead. The people who made a way in the wilderness for us, and upon whose legacies we now stand. It’s their stories that I know readers connect with and relate to, and it’s time for who I call the auroras of history, the lights that appear in the quiet early morning hours when no one is yet awake, to have their moment.
How did you decide which people to profile? You probably stumbled upon many incredible stories while researching this book.
Well, not only does someone have to have an interesting story to tell, but they all need to connect to each other in some way so that the reader is left feeling like they’ve just witnessed a beautiful tapestry being formed before their very eyes. And then, because this is a work of history, it also has to be true. It can’t just be a compelling narrative, which it is, but it also has to be real. So that was the tricky part. I had to make sure I could prove everything. Believe me, there are stories that I wanted to find but couldn’t document to the standard that I felt comfortable with. Maybe more years of searching will yield different results, but as of yet, they haven’t.
You’ve used the community you’ve built online to mobilize people to come together and raise millions of dollars for causes you care about — tell us about these efforts and how you’ve been able to harness the power of social media for good.
We hear a lot about the negative effects of social media — and there definitely are some. But social media is a tool, and in the same way that a hammer can be used to break a window or build a house, social media can mess with our mental health or it can be an incredible force for good. One of the ways I’ve used the tool of social media is by raising more than $10 million for organizations like RIP Medical Debt, World Central Kitchen, and Convoy of Hope, and for teacher grants. People want to contribute. They want to feel like they’re making a difference. What I do is provide them with the opportunity, and I simplify it for them.
This is just one of many ways social media can be used for good, but there are a lot of things that can be bad about social media as well, which I’m sure you’re no stranger to — like misinformation and trolls. How do you balance the two and maintain a healthy relationship with social media and your audience?
Oh yes, trolls and death threats are real, and they also take a huge toll on creators. I try to remember two things:
1. If they can’t keep me from doing it, they will try to keep me from enjoying it.
2. If they can keep me from enjoying it, they will get me to give up on my important work.
And so I remember my mantras: I refuse to be distracted from my important work. I refuse to let them steal my joy. And then I use the tools and coping mechanisms I need to support that.
We live in such polarizing times. What’s your advice to people who feel like it’s become increasingly difficult to have a civilized discussion with someone they disagree with on politics?
If it feels hard, it doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It feels hard for everyone. One lesson I learned while researching my book is that all of the changemakers of history have used coalitions to make important things happen. They have not insisted on perfect agreement, like some people seem to think is the standard today. Two people might not agree on the right way to address the housing shortage in America, but perhaps they find common ground on paid family leave. This all boils down to one concept: Agree everywhere you can. And that agreement, even if it’s only on one thing, can help build a bridge. And those bridges are the pathways upon which beautiful things can grow.
