The NewsWorthy – Special Edition: "Beyond Outrage: Unsung Heroes & Doing the ‘Next Needed Thing’"

Host: Erica Mandy
Guest: Sharon McMahon (“America’s government teacher”, author of The Small and the Mighty)
Date: March 8, 2025
Occasion: International Women’s Day & Women’s History Month

Episode Overview

This special edition of The NewsWorthy, hosted by Erica Mandy, honors International Women’s Day by spotlighting the often-overlooked women who have shaped American history and what their stories teach us about making an impact. Veteran journalist Mandy speaks candidly with Sharon McMahon—a.k.a. "Sharon Says So"—about the lessons that unsung heroes have for today’s chaotic, often discouraging world: focusing on “the next needed thing,” working with people you disagree with, and redefining what it means to make a difference.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Underrepresentation of Women in History

• Many pivotal women have been “intentionally or accidentally excluded” from the historical narrative due to lack of agency, interest, or opportunity to record their stories.
• Quote:
  • “More men have had their songs sung, Erica, than women. It's the women who, by and large, are unsung.”
    —Sharon McMahon (02:39)
• Despite progress in the U.S., globally (e.g., Iran, Afghanistan) there remains a long road ahead for women’s rights.

2. Common Threads Among Unsung Women

• Most did not have access to power or fame. What they did have was perseverance: doing the “next needed thing” despite limited resources and daunting circumstances.
• Quote:
  • “What they kept doing was the next needed thing... That’s available to all of us.”
    —Sharon McMahon (03:03)
• The power of incremental impact: change isn’t always about monumental acts, but often steady, small actions.

3. Favorite Story: Virginia Randolph

• Notable as a pioneering teacher who revolutionized American education—virtually unknown outside Henrico County, VA.
• Instilled with the mantra: “Just do the next needed thing.”
• Memorable Moment:
  • Sharon’s admiration for teacher stories and how educators’ influence ripples across time. (04:05)

4. Advice for the Overwhelmed & Burnt Out

• Don’t get paralyzed by the scale of the world’s problems; resist “doom spirals” and “analysis paralysis.” (04:37)
• Instead:
  • “Just choose to do for one person what you wish you could do for them all. And that actually will help fuel the next needed thing.”
    —Sharon McMahon (04:37)
• Emphasis on small, local actions as fuel for future progress—acts for neighbors, friends, etc.

5. Are We in America’s Worst Era?

• Contextualizes today’s challenges with U.S. history: there have been far darker times (e.g., lawmakers beating each other in Congress over slavery).
• Quote:
  • “Are we nearly beating each other to death on the floor of Congress over whether or not it is acceptable to own humans? No, we are not.”
    —Sharon McMahon (10:22)
• Acknowledges contemporary issues while underscoring historical progress (e.g., women voting, abolition of slavery).

6. Working With Your Enemies: The Septima Clark Example

• Septima Clark embodied the art of collaborating across deep divides, even with those she strongly disagreed with (like segregationists).
• Change in America—civil rights, women’s suffrage—required bipartisan, broad-based cooperation.
• Quote:
  • “If we want long lasting change, we have to be willing to work with people with whom we disagree on other things.”
    —Sharon McMahon (11:25)
• Viral moments are often outrage-based, but much of the real progress comes quietly and collaboratively.

7. Bipartisanship & Congress: Show Ponies vs. Workhorses

• True, Congress is less productive than in the past, but most bills that reach the President are bipartisan.
• Work often goes unseen because cooperation isn’t sensational enough for viral media.
• Quote:
  • “Almost all legislation that is passed today has to be bipartisan. There is no party that has such strong majorities that they can overcome the minority party.”
    —Sharon McMahon (13:32)

8. The State of Women’s Rights Today

• Tremendous progress: More women in higher education and medical school, data-backed effectiveness of women leaders and surgeons.
• Major gap: Equal representation in top corporate and government roles; e.g., no U.S. woman president yet.
• Reproductive rights remain a flashpoint of contention.
• Quote:
  • “Women who are the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, their companies statistically outperform those led by men...”
    —Sharon McMahon (14:36)

9. Redefining Impact & Activism

• Impact isn’t measured by fame or scale. Everyday, “ordinary” people—teachers, neighbors—change lives in meaningful ways.
• Quote:
  • “We need to disabuse ourselves of the notion that ‘having an impact’ means we need to be famous.”
    —Sharon McMahon (16:20)
• Don’t “go it alone”: hundreds of organizations already exist to address most causes.
• On Social Media:
  • “Arguing on the Internet is not activism... No one goes to bed with food in their bellies... as a result of leaving the nasty Facebook comments.”
    —Sharon McMahon (17:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Time | Quote/Paraphrase | Speaker | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------| | 02:39 | “More men have had their songs sung, Erica, than women.” | Sharon McMahon | | 03:03 | “What they kept doing was the next needed thing... That’s available to all of us.” | Sharon McMahon | | 04:05 | “As a longtime teacher, I always, always love a good teacher story.” | Sharon McMahon | | 04:37 | “Just choose to do for one person what you wish you could do for them all.” | Sharon McMahon | | 10:22 | “Are we nearly beating each other to death on the floor of Congress ...? No, we are not.”| Sharon McMahon | | 11:25 | “If we want long lasting change, we have to be willing to work with people... disagree.” | Sharon McMahon | | 13:32 | “Almost all legislation that is passed today has to be bipartisan... “ | Sharon McMahon | | 14:36 | “Women ... CEOs of Fortune 500 companies ... statistically outperform ... led by men.” | Sharon McMahon | | 16:20 | “We need to disabuse ourselves of the notion that ‘having an impact’ means ... famous.” | Sharon McMahon | | 17:20 | “Arguing on the Internet is not activism ... no one goes to bed with food in their bellies [from that].”| Sharon McMahon |

Important Timestamps

• 00:29 – 01:49: Erica Mandy introduces the theme; Sharon McMahon joins.
• 01:54 – 04:32: Discussing unsung women, and Virginia Randolph as a favorite example.
• 04:37 – 05:58: Coping with overwhelm; the “next needed thing” approach.
• 08:46 – 10:43: America’s current challenges versus historical lows.
• 10:43 – 12:31: The importance of working with adversaries (Septima Clark example).
• 12:31 – 13:48: Bipartisanship and overlooked congressional collaboration.
• 14:07 – 15:33: The state of women’s rights: achievements, setbacks, and next steps.
• 15:33 – 18:16: Redefining impact, joining forces, and pitfalls of online “activism.”

Summary Takeaways

• Major leaps in U.S. history often came from the perseverance of unsung, everyday individuals—especially women.
• Don’t be paralyzed by scale: do what you can, where you are.
• Meaningful change almost always requires working with people we disagree with—and quiet collaboration doesn’t make headlines.
• Impact can be small, local, and deeply personal, not just national or famous.
• Online arguments feel activating, but rarely translate into concrete change—real activism means action, not only engagement.

For more:

• Sharon McMahon's book: The Small and the Mighty
• Sharon's podcast: "Here’s Where It Gets Interesting"
• More at sharonmcmahon.com

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