Sharon McMahon is an American podcast host, author, Instagram influencer, and law and government teacher.
Nicknamed "America's Government Teacher," McMahon produces and hosts civics and history-focused content on her podcast, Instagram and other platforms with a particular focus on combating misinformation, from both sides of the aisle, and providing nonpartisan explanations on the application of constitutional law to contemporary American politics.
A longtime high school law and government teacher, McMahon began publishing politics-oriented content to her Instagram in September 2020, in response to what she saw as rising misinformation in her own social media feeds amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 election cycle. Topics covered by McMahon included the responsibilities of the electoral college, principles of democracy, the functions and structure of US government, and untold stores of general American history. Soon after McMahon launched, Government for Grownups, a workshop series about US history and government.
In December 2020, McMahon launched her first giving campaign with the goal to raise $1000 for a family in need. Instead, McMahon crowdfunded more than $125,000. In January 2021, McMahon gained media attention for organizing a letter-writing campaign to thank U.S. Capitol custodians cleaning up after the January 6th insurrection.
Book
McMahon is writing a book which will be released September 2024.
Podcast
In July 2021, McMahon started hosting Here's Where It Get's Interesting, which quickly ranked in the top 1% of all podcasts with 1.2 million monthly downloads. The 300+ episodes are a mix of interviews with notable Americans and DocuSeries shedding light on American history, like Prohibition, Civil Rights, and World War Two. Podcast guests have included Sen. Mitt Romney, actor George Takei, actor Rainn Wilson, author Adam Grant, Mark Rober, Tabitha Brown, Jodi Benson, Heather Cox Richardson, Maria Bamford, and documentarians Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein.
Philanthropic activity
McMahon's motto "Pennies into miracles" has resulted in over US$7.4 million being raised for teachers grants, medical debt payments, natural disaster relief and families in need. In 2022, Governerds, what McMahon's following nicknamed themselves, were able to raise US$565,000 for RIP Medical Debt who was able to forgive $147,000,000 of medical debt for individuals and families in the USA.
According to the Red Cross, over 8,300 have joined the Governerd blood donation team, and together have impacted 180,000 lives. They are the #7 ranked team in the country.
Awards
In 2022, she was recognized as Communicator of the Year by PRWeek and nominated as Best Social Creator at the Webby Awards. In 2023, Here's Where It Get's Interesting, the podcast, won a Webby Award for Best Writing and People's Voice.
McMahon was a recipient of Twin Cities Business 100 in 2023.
Media appearances
McMahon has appeared on The Daily Show and as a panelist for the George W. Bush Presidential Center's "Engage at the Bush Center" series. In 2021, McMahon appeared on CNN and Good Morning America. She regularly is on local news and radio networks across the United States, like Minnesota Public Radio, Maine Public Radio and KSL, advocating for civil engagement and discourse while breaking down constitutional topics.
In June 2021, Wired wrote about McMahon's ability to help people break out of echo-chambers and information silos on social media.
Other activity
Starts with Us
McMahon is a founding partner of "Starts with Us", an organization overcoming extreme division. Starts With Us is "a movement to empower millions of Americans who are tired of the culture of contempt and energized to foster critical thinking and constructive communication across individual's lines of difference."
Progress Network
McMahon is a member of the Progress Network.
References
External links
@sharonsaysso Instagram Account
American commentators
American schoolteachers
Year of birth missing (living people) Living people