ENCORE: Dr. Amy Acton on Leadership, Courage and Refusing to Look the Other Way
What does it take to face hard things without looking away?
When Nan Whaley relaunched Carry As You Climb in October 2025, Amy was her first guest. The two longtime friends sat down in Cincinnati to talk about the experiences that shaped Amy’s leadership, from a difficult childhood in Youngstown to guiding Ohio through the early days of COVID-19.
Now, a year later, we're revisiting that conversation following a controversial campaign ad featuring Amy's estranged mother questioning her account of childhood abuse and homelessness. The ad, produced by her opponent's campaign, has drawn bipartisan criticism.
In this encore episode, Amy reflects on the people who showed her kindness when she needed it most, the courage it takes to tell hard truths, and why she believes meaningful change begins with relationships.
Originally recorded in October 2025.
Conversation Highlights
- Never look the other way: How Amy’s childhood experiences and the kindness of neighbors shaped her commitment to helping others.
- Tell the hard truth: What leading Ohio’s early COVID-19 response taught Amy about transparency, trust, and empowering communities to solve problems together.
- Kindness is a fierce thing: Why Amy believes compassion and courage belong together, and why being kind doesn’t mean being weak.
- Be an upstander, not a bystander: Why Amy has learned to speak up, build relationships, and find the people who will stand beside you.
Resources Mentioned:
- Our Common Purpose: Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy
- Profile in COVID Courage Award, John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
- Children's Defense Fund
- On Being with Krista Tippett
- Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center — Cincy Upstander Project and upstander training
- Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio
- Ohio River Way National Water Trail
- Dr. Amy Acton for Governor
About Our Guest: Dr. Amy Acton is a physician, public health leader, and the Democratic nominee for Governor of Ohio. She served as director of the Ohio Department of Health from 2019 to 2020, leading the state’s early response to COVID-19 under Republican Governor Mike DeWine. A graduate of Northeast Ohio Medical University, she has worked in preventative medicine, maternal and child health, and public health education. Her leadership during the pandemic earned her a Profile in COVID Courage Award from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.
About the Host: Nan Whaley is a longtime community leader and public servant. She's currently the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. She served as Mayor of Dayton, Ohio, from 2014 - 2022. Nan has also presided over the United Conference of Mayors. She's a feminist, daughter, aunt, sister, and friend.
About the Show: Carry As You Climb elevates the voices of women in leadership from Ohio and across the United States. The podcast features guests who not only bust through doors to lead but also hold the door open for more women behind them. In other words, they carry as they climb. We focus on leadership development and leadership lessons. Plus, we share personal experiences to inspire the inclusion of more diverse leaders in business, government and the nonprofit sector.
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Stay up to date with Nan's Substack: substack.com/@nanwhaley
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Produced by: Collective Change Communications - Kelly Sakalas & Jeni Keeler
Note: The opinions expressed by host Nan Whaley on this podcast are hers alone and do not represent any organization with which she is affiliated.