KXRW Vancouver Presents
Democracy Talk
People, Politics, and Power in Southwest Washignton and Beyond
3rd Friday - Noon to 1pm
Democracy Talk
About Our Show
Democracy Talk is about real people and real power—we want listeners to feel more informed, more connected, and more ready to take part in shaping their communities.
What Motivated This Show
Democracy Talk is a civic-minded conversation space where politics meets the people it affects. Hosted by Dr. Donna Sinclair and Mark Haller, the show explores what it takes to build and sustain a healthy democracy—through interviews with elected officials, candidates, activists, and everyday community members shaping life in Southwest Washington and beyond.
From City Hall to your neighborhood block—and from the job site to the union hall—democracy lives in the choices we make and the people we trust to lead. Democracy Talk dives into those choices, digging into the issues that shape everyday life, tracing how power moves through our communities, and unpacking the institutions and philosophies behind public policy—making it real, relevant, and worth talking about through the stories and voices of the people living it.
Together, we ask: How do we protect our democratic republic? What makes it thrive? And how can we build a future that’s just, inclusive, and resilient?
This is not just talk—it’s democracy with teeth. If you’re fired up about your community or ready to hear from the people doing the real work of democracy, Democracy Talk is your place. We challenge assumptions, spotlight action, and make space for the ideas and debates that matter.
Bio
Donna Sinclair
Donna Sinclair is an educator, an author, a former school board member, and a mom.
She previously managed the Oregon Historical Society Oral History Department and has run multiple oral history projects in the region.
Sinclair, who teaches Public, U.S., Gender, Environmental, and Public History, has written extensively for NPS, worked with local museums and regional tribes, and provides oral history training to organizations.
She is excited to facilitate a different kind of storytelling over the air waves in the metro region!
Democracy Talk is your local guide to the people and politics shaping Southwest Washington. Hosts Dr. Donna Sinclair and Mark Haller bring fresh conversations with elected leaders, community voices, and activists working to keep democracy vibrant and accountable. They explore how work, community, and the challenges we face every day connect to the bigger picture of a thriving democracy.
Mark Haller
Mark Haller is a retired financial planner, high school STEM tutor, husband and father.
He ran his own financial services practice in Olympia and Tacoma for over 20 years before finishing his career with Fisher Investments here in Camas.
Haller believes in working with others to improve our community including mentoring young people and assisting Friends of the Washougal Library with their build the library fundraising projects.
He is excited to join KXRW in sharing the many voices of democracy in our community.
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