Rep. Cunningham Tells Her Story

Representative Cunningham joined The Jentry Podcast to discuss serving North Carolina’s 106th District for more than a decade. From her early career as a nurse to her work as a legislator, Rep. Cunningham tells her story, which host Jonathan Mason says is one of, "resilience, purpose, and service."

The following is how he described the conversation:

She shares how personal experiences with her son’s health challenges inspired her to champion Medicaid expansion, the Affordable Care Act, and mental health reforms. The conversation explores the realities of legislating in Raleigh, the art of negotiation, and the importance of building relationships across the aisle. Rep. Cunningham also speaks candidly about gerrymandering, affordable housing, and initiatives ranging from student ID crisis lines to school lunch debt relief. She closes with a powerful message on self-care and boundaries: the importance of saying “Not today” in order to sustain long-term leadership and change.

Here are his takeaways:

• From Nursing to Public Office: Carla’s decades in nursing prepared her to lead with empathy, discipline, and a community-first mindset.

• Health Care as a Calling: Personal struggles with her son’s care fueled her fight for Medicaid expansion and mental health reform.

• The Hard Work of Politics: Success often means compromise—knowing when to give, when to fight, and how to “get to yes.”

• Relationships Matter: Respect is earned through listening, research, and building trust across the aisle.

• Boundaries & Balance: Leadership requires self-care—knowing when to push, and when to say “Not today.”

Chapters

00:37 Introduction to Rep. Carla Cunningham

01:56 The people and beauty of North Carolina

03:16 From nurse to legislator: a journey of service

06:30 Family impact of mental health and the push for ACA & Medicaid expansion

10:11 Explaining Medicaid expansion in simple terms

15:25 What a state representative does

21:49 Lessons learned: listening, research, and relationships

26:24 The power of bipartisanship and building allies

27:34 District priorities and working with nonprofits

32:57 Gerrymandering explained in plain terms

39:32 Current initiatives: suicide prevention, jail oversight, housing, school lunch debt

44:00 Legacy, boundaries, and the power of saying “Not today”