Rich spent seven years as a devoted MAGA activist, pundit and podcaster. He left the movement in 2022 after becoming disillusioned with its extremism and negative impact on American democracy. Not content to simply walk away, Rich founded Leaving MAGA in 2024. Through public speaking, writing, and media appearances, he works fervently to support those seeking a path out of radicalization. Rich refers to himself as a born-again human being, and believes that empathy and understanding are necessary to reduce political polarization. He is the author of One Betrayal Too Many: Why I Left MAGA.
Paul oversees all content produced by Leaving MAGA. Before retiring in 2023, he had a distinguished 40-year career in journalism. He covered the wars in Central America in the 1980s, spent a decade as a foreign editor at NPR, and served as news director for an NPR affiliate in Los Angeles. He garnered numerous honors, including two duPont Columbia Awards and a Peabody. Paul joined Leaving MAGA because he wants to find creative ways to heal the wounds of a sorely divided country.
Ray produces and edits video content for Leaving MAGA. He is a seasoned video producer and editor with over 15 years of industry experience, ranging from solo creative execution to leading multidisciplinary teams. Ray is driven by the belief that media should be a tool for unity and education, and he is dedicated to creating content that advocates for equal rights and mutual respect across all political and social spectrums.
Brandon serves as the Community Manager for Leaving MAGA. He cultivates meaningful conversations, fosters community, and creates spaces where people from different backgrounds and perspectives can engage with one another in good faith. His work is rooted in the belief that informed citizens and constructive dialogue are essential to strengthening democracy and rebuilding trust across political and cultural divides.
Joey produces and directs video content for Leaving MAGA. He works in both video and events as a producer and director in the commercial, documentary and live spaces. Joey joined up with Leaving MAGA to help spotlight issues around misinformation, foster communication in the political sphere, and tell the stories of people who have joined the Leaving MAGA movement.
Julianna, MSW, leads and facilitates Solutions & Serenity: A Support Group For Those Affected By A Loved One’s MAGA Affiliation. She’s a therapist, facilitator, writer, radio host, and educator whose work centers on transformational practice, nonviolence, and moral clarity in times of political and relational fracture. Julianna currently hosts and produces radio programming for WBAI in NYC, teaches media and communication, and facilitates groups focused on restoring clarity, steadiness, and agency in environments shaped by extremism. Her writings can be found at The Peace and the Power, on Substack.
Zach has been involved in depolarization/bridge-building efforts since 2019. He’s the author of Defusing American Anger and How Contempt Destroys Democracy. He believes we can passionately advocate for our political beliefs while also seeking to reduce toxic polarization, and disagree in better, more productive ways. Through his writings, Zach has embraced more respectful and persuasive approaches, encouraging others to avoid insulting, us-vs-them framings. He sees Leaving MAGA as an organization devoted to fostering reconciliation between MAGA supporters and opponents.
Noelle is an ethnographer and researcher whose work examines the social, cultural, and institutional dynamics that drive extremism, conspiracy belief, and political polarization in the United States. She is the author of The Conspiracists: Women, Extremism, and the Lure of Belonging and an associate producer and on-screen researcher for the feature documentary The Conspiracists, both based on nearly five years of immersive fieldwork. Noelle has advised journalists, filmmakers, educators, and civic organizations on navigating polarized environments and communicating sensitive issues responsibly. Her work reflects an analytical, evidence-based approach grounded in an understanding of social risk, public trust, and democratic norms.
Adrienne is the Executive Director of United Vision for Idaho (UVI), an Idaho-based nonprofit and the state’s only multi-issue progressive coalition. A sociologist specializing in democracy, authoritarianism, polarization, and movement building, Evans has spent more than seventeen years organizing in one of the nation’s most conservative states while building a nationally recognized model for strengthening democratic participation. Through its work, UVI has become a wake-up call to the broader pro-democracy movement, demonstrating that rural America is not peripheral to the future of democracy—it is central to it.
Shannon manages and scales the strategy for Leaving MAGA’s social channels. She’s spent a decade in creative marketing as a copywriter, community manager, and social strategist for the hospitality, food & beverage, cannabis, and style industries. A lifelong student of humanity, Shannon finds people’s stories fascinating and is driven to turn them into compelling content to influence hearts and minds for the better.
